Plan on about 11 h 9 min of driving for the 473-mile (762 km) trip from Fortaleza to Codó, before any 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance | 473 mi (762 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | CE-020 → BR-222 → BR-343 → BR-316 → MA-026 |
| States on the route | Ceará, Piauí, Maranhão |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Fortaleza to Codó
BR-222 (255 mi) and BR-343 (99 mi) carry about 75% of the 473 miles. It runs through 3 states: Ceará, Piauí, Maranhão. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Fortaleza to Codó, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Ceará |
| CE-020 | 4–7 | 3 | Ceará |
| connecting roads | 7–10 | 3 | Ceará |
| BR-222 | 10–265 | 255 | Ceará, Piauí |
| BR-343 | 265–364 | 99 | Piauí |
| local roads | 364–375 | 11 | Piauí, Maranhão |
| BR-316 | 375–462 | 87 | Maranhão |
| MA-026 | 462–472 | 10 | Maranhão |
| local roads | 472–473 | 1 | Maranhão |
- Mile 221 of this route: Ceará → Piauí (state line)
- Mile 372 of this route: Piauí → Maranhão (state line)
What to see on the way from Fortaleza to Codó
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa da Fazenda da Dona Alemã (mile 284), St. Anthony Cathedral, Campo Maior (mile 316), Memorial Esperança Garcia (mile 368), Quatro de Setembro Theater (mile 370)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia de Iparana (mile 9), Ubajara National Park (mile 180), Sete Cidades National Park (mile 252)
- Museums and history: Sobral Cathedral (mile 142), Casa da Fazenda da Dona Alemã (mile 284), St. Anthony Cathedral, Campo Maior (mile 316), Memorial Esperança Garcia (mile 368)
Praia de Iparana
About 18 km from Fortaleza in Caucaia, Praia de Iparana has calm water, small bays and long stretches of fine sand, with easy access that draws visitors.
Sobral Cathedral
Sobral Cathedral (Catedral de Sobral), also called the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception, is the main church of the Diocese of Sobral in Brazil.
Ubajara National Park
Ubajara National Park is a national park in the state of Ceará, best known for the Ubajara grotto, a cave that gives the park its reputation.
Sete Cidades National Park
Sete Cidades National Park is a national park in the state of Piauí, Brazil.
Casa da Fazenda da Dona Alemã
Also called Vovó Alemã, Casa da Fazenda da Dona Alemã is a 19th-century farmhouse in Capitão de Campos, protected by state decree in 1992 as an example of rural Piauí architecture with its original features intact.
St. Anthony Cathedral, Campo Maior
In Campo Maior, Piauí, St. Anthony Cathedral is a Catholic church on Bona Primo Square, also known as Campo Maior Cathedral.
Memorial Esperança Garcia
On Avenida Miguel Rosa in Teresina, the Memorial Esperança Garcia is a cultural space opened in July 2007 and run by the Piauí State Department of Culture.
Quatro de Setembro Theater
Teresina's Quatro de Setembro Theater opened on April 21, 1894, in the capital of Piauí state.
More drives to Codó
From Fortaleza to other places in Brazil
- Fortaleza to Canoa Quebrada
- Fortaleza to Mossoró
- Fortaleza to Parnamirim
- Fortaleza to Fazenda Nova
- Fortaleza to Olinda
- Fortaleza to Garanhuns
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Fortaleza to Codó?
About 11 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 473 miles.
What is the driving distance from Fortaleza to Codó?
About 473 miles (762 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 Fortaleza to Codó?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Fortaleza to Codó use?
In order: CE-020, BR-222, BR-343, BR-316 and MA-026. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Fortaleza and Codó?
Closest to the road: Casa da Fazenda da Dona Alemã (historic estate, mile 284, 0.1 mi from the route); St. Anthony Cathedral, Campo Maior (cathedral, mile 316, 0.5 mi from the route); Quatro de Setembro Theater (theater, mile 370, 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.