Franca to Governador Valadares is about 476 road miles (766 km): roughly 11 h 14 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Total distance | 476 mi (766 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-345 → MG-444 → MG-344 → MG-050 → BR-262 → BR-381 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Franca to Governador Valadares drive plays out
MG-050 (195 mi) and BR-381 (187 mi) carry about 80% of the 476 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Franca to Governador Valadares, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-345 | 2–23 | 21 | São Paulo |
| MG-444 | 23–38 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-344 | 38–53 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 53–54 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 54–249 | 195 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 249–250 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 250–264 | 14 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 264–272 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 272–275 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 275–281 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 281–285 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 285–398 | 113 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 398–408 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 408–474 | 66 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 474–476 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 23 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Governador Valadares
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (mile 231), Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 277), Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (mile 403)
- Nature and outdoors: Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 90), Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 277)
- Museums and history: Holy Spirit Cathedral, Divinópolis (mile 209), Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (mile 231), Nair Mendes Moreira House of Culture (mile 268), Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 277), Kubitschek Residence Museum (mile 280), Museu da Força Expedicionária Brasileira (mile 280), Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (mile 403)
- With kids: Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 277)
Cachoeira da Capivara
In Capitólio, the Ribeirão da Capivara spills over this waterfall on its way into Furnas Lake. A trail of about 900 meters leads to the falls, which drop into a pool roughly 16 meters deep.
Holy Spirit Cathedral, Divinópolis
The Holy Spirit Cathedral in Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, is the Roman Catholic church that serves as seat of the Diocese of Divinópolis.
Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco
In Itaúna, Minas Gerais, this municipal museum occupies the old railway station, which served trains from its opening in 1917 until passenger service through the town ended in 1986.
Vale Verde
Vale Verde Parque Ecológico sits in the municipality of Betim, Minas Gerais, on a farm with a still where Cachaça Vale Verde is produced.
Nair Mendes Moreira House of Culture
Known locally as Casa do Registro, the Casa da Cultura Nair Mendes Moreira is an 18th-century house in Contagem. Local tradition links it to a Portuguese Crown post that counted goods and checked tax payments.
Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais
On the PUC Minas campus in Belo Horizonte, this natural sciences museum shows Brazilian fauna, largely from the cerrado, alongside fossil South American mammals and an 'Age of Reptiles' hall with dinosaurs, pterosaurs and a large crocodile.
Kubitschek Residence Museum
On the shore of Lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, the Kubitschek Residence Museum occupies the former weekend home of Juscelino Kubitschek.
Museu da Força Expedicionária Brasileira
In Belo Horizonte, the Museu da Força Expedicionária Brasileira covers Brazil's role in World War II, with a focus on soldiers from Minas Gerais sent to Italy, including the taking of Montese.
Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano
Inaugurated in 1993, Saint Sebastian Cathedral in Coronel Fabriciano, Minas Gerais, shares the role of seat of the Diocese of Itabira-Fabriciano with Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in Itabira.
Once you reach Governador Valadares
St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral, Governador Valadares
St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral is the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Governador Valadares, in the city of the same name in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Governador Valadares
- Niterói to Governador Valadares
- Uberaba to Governador Valadares
- Jundiaí to Governador Valadares
- Limeira to Governador Valadares
- Campinas to Governador Valadares
- São Paulo to Governador Valadares
From Franca to other places in Brazil
- Franca to Botucatu
- Franca to Bragança Paulista
- Franca to Paranapiacaba
- Franca to Cubatão
- Franca to Itanhaém
- Franca to São Vicente
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Franca to Governador Valadares?
About 11 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 476 miles.
What is the driving distance from Franca to Governador Valadares?
About 476 miles (766 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 Franca to Governador Valadares?
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 Franca to Governador Valadares use?
In order: SP-345, MG-444, MG-344, MG-050, BR-262, BR-381 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Franca to Governador Valadares?
Closest to the road: Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (museum, mile 231, 0.5 mi from the route); Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (museum, mile 277, 0.6 mi from the route); Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (cathedral, mile 403, 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.