The Wayro route from Criciúma to Rio Grande is 365 miles (588 km), about 8 h 5 min of driving without stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance | 365 mi (588 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-290 → BR-116 → BR-392 → ERS-734 |
| States on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Criciúma–Rio Grande drive in a few lines
BR-101 (98 mi) and BR-116 (94 mi) carry about 53% of the 365 miles. It runs through 2 states: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Criciúma to Rio Grande
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-101 | 11–109 | 98 | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 109–111 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 111–170 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 170–264 | 94 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 264–324 | 60 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 324–326 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 326–359 | 33 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-734 | 359–363 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 363–365 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 55 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Criciúma and Rio Grande
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Morro de Osório Protected Area (mile 112), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 265)
- Nature and outdoors: Guarita State Park (mile 59), Praia da Guarita (mile 59)
- Museums and history: Catedral da Santíssima Trindade em Porto Alegre (mile 171), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 185), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 265), Museu da Baronesa (mile 330), Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (mile 330)
Guarita State Park
Officially Parque Estadual José Lutzenberger, Guarita State Park in Rio Grande do Sul protects a promontory on the South Atlantic Ocean.
Praia da Guarita
Guarita Beach in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, is a public beach resort along the city's coast.
Morro de Osório Protected Area
Created in 1994, the Morro de Osório Environmental Protection Area is a municipal conservation unit of Osório, Rio Grande do Sul, originally covering about 6,896 acres.
Catedral da Santíssima Trindade em Porto Alegre
On Rua dos Andradas in Porto Alegre, the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is the seat of the Southern Anglican Diocese and the national cathedral of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil.
Observatory of university federal of Rio Grande do Sul
Part of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, this astronomical observatory in Porto Alegre works as a scientific institution, a museum and a teaching unit.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves
Created by state decree in 1972 and linked to Rio Grande do Sul's culture department, this historic park stands on the old Sesmaria do Cristal, land once granted to the father of Farroupilha leader Bento Gonçalves da Silva.
Museu da Baronesa
Opened in 1982 and run by the Pelotas city culture department, Museu da Baronesa occupies a building listed as municipal heritage in 1985.
Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo
Opened in 1986 on Praça 7 de Julho, across from the Mercado Central in downtown Pelotas, this art museum is part of the Federal University of Pelotas arts center.
Arriving in Rio Grande
Museu Antártico
The Museu Antártico is a science museum in the city of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, and part of the museum complex run by the local university foundation.
Eco-Museu da Ilha da Pólvora
Opened in April 1999 in the city of Rio Grande, the Eco-Museu da Ilha da Pólvora was created with support from the Brazilian Army and the Federal University of Rio Grande Foundation.
Catedral de São Pedro
Seat of the Diocese of Rio Grande, the Catedral de São Pedro in the city of Rio Grande is a church of historic and artistic value whose construction began in 1755.
More drives to Rio Grande
- Porto Alegre to Rio Grande
- São Leopoldo to Rio Grande
- Novo Hamburgo to Rio Grande
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Rio Grande
- Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande
- Passo Fundo to Rio Grande
From Criciúma to other places in Brazil
- Criciúma to Camboriú
- Criciúma to Bento Gonçalves
- Criciúma to Jaraguá do Sul
- Criciúma to Paranaguá
- Criciúma to Francisco Beltrão
- Criciúma to Guarapuava
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Criciúma to Rio Grande?
About 8 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 365 miles.
How far is Rio Grande from Criciúma by car?
About 365 miles (588 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Criciúma to Rio Grande?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Criciúma to Rio Grande?
In order: BR-101, BR-290, BR-116, BR-392 and ERS-734. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Criciúma and Rio Grande?
Closest to the road: Morro de Osório Protected Area (environmental protection area, mile 112, 0.8 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 265, 0.5 mi from the route); Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (museum, mile 330, 1 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.