Curitiba to Petrópolis is about 534 road miles (859 km): roughly 11 h 26 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Total distance | 534 mi (859 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SP-021 → SP-015 → SP-060 → BR-493 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Curitiba to Petrópolis is like
BR-116 (276 mi) and SP-060 (176 mi) carry about 85% of the 534 miles. It runs through 3 states: Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Curitiba to Petrópolis, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Paraná |
| BR-116 | 6–234 | 228 | Paraná, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 234–235 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 235–243 | 8 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 243–249 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-015 | 249–258 | 9 | São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 258–434 | 176 | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 434–482 | 48 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 482–483 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 483–513 | 30 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 513–529 | 16 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 529–534 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 62 of this route: Paraná → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 403 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
What to see on the way from Curitiba to Petrópolis
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 412)
- Nature and outdoors: Pico Paraná State Park (mile 29), Rio Turvo State Park (mile 88), Campina do Encantado State Park (mile 126), Itatiaia National Park (mile 412)
- Museums and history: Basilica Minor Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima (Embu das Artes) (mile 233), Jewish Museum of São Paulo (mile 255), Pátio do Colégio (mile 256), Museu Monteiro Lobato (mile 334), Valongo Wharf (mile 513)
Pico Paraná State Park
Pico Paraná State Park protects well-preserved Atlantic Forest in Paraná state and contains a massif with the highest peak in southern Brazil.
Rio Turvo State Park
Roughly 73,900 hectares of Atlantic Forest fall within Rio Turvo State Park, which reaches into Cajati, Barra do Turvo and Jacupiranga. It has trails, a waterfall, a cave and Morro do Guaraú.
Campina do Encantado State Park
A peat bog and a stretch of wetland forest are protected in Campina do Encantado State Park, in Pariquera-Açu, São Paulo state. The ecosystem is described as unique and of great scientific interest.
Basilica Minor Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima (Embu das Artes)
On the line between Cotia and Embu das Artes in São Paulo state, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima is a Catholic church served by the Heralds of the Gospel.
Jewish Museum of São Paulo
São Paulo's Jewish Museum presents exhibits on Jewish life in Brazil, with a collection of more than 2,000 items brought by immigrants.
Pátio do Colégio
Pátio do Colégio is the historic Jesuit church and school in São Paulo, Brazil; the name also refers to the square in front of the church.
Museu Monteiro Lobato
Plays featuring characters from Monteiro Lobato's stories, exhibitions, a historic main house and green areas make up the Museu Monteiro Lobato in Taubaté, a tribute to the children's author.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
When you get to Petrópolis
Imperial Museum of Brazil
Housed in the Petrópolis Imperial Palace, the former summer residence of Emperor Pedro II, the Imperial Museum sits in the historic center of Petrópolis; work on the palace began in 1845.
Petrópolis Municipal Nature Park
Petrópolis Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Cathedral of Petrópolis
Dedicated to the city's patron, Saint Peter of Alcantara, the Cathedral of Petrópolis is the final resting place of Dom Pedro II, Brazil's last emperor, and his family.
More drives to Petrópolis
- São José dos Campos to Petrópolis
- Mogi das Cruzes to Petrópolis
- São Paulo to Petrópolis
- Jundiaí to Petrópolis
- Santos to Petrópolis
- São Vicente to Petrópolis
From Curitiba to other places in Brazil
- Curitiba to Ponta Grossa
- Curitiba to Guarapuava
- Curitiba to Itanhaém
- Curitiba to Apucarana
- Curitiba to Sorocaba
- Curitiba to Londrina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Curitiba to Petrópolis?
About 11 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 534 miles.
What is the driving distance from Curitiba to Petrópolis?
About 534 miles (859 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 Curitiba to Petrópolis?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Curitiba to Petrópolis?
In order: BR-116, SP-021, SP-015, SP-060, BR-493 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Curitiba and Petrópolis?
Closest to the road: Pátio do Colégio (mission, mile 256, 2 mi from the route); Museu Monteiro Lobato (museum, mile 334, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 412, 0.4 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.