Franca to Itabira is about 344 road miles (553 km): roughly 7 h 47 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance by road | 344 mi (553 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-345 → MG-444 → MG-344 → MG-050 → BR-262 → BR-381 → BR-040 → MG-434 → MG-129 → AMG-1210 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Franca to Itabira: the shape of the trip
MG-050 (195 mi) and BR-381 (43 mi) carry about 69% of the 344 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Franca to Itabira, 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 | 285–320 | 35 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 320–321 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-434 | 321–333 | 12 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-129 | 333–336 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1210 | 336–342 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 342–344 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 23 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Places worth a stop between Franca and Itabira
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (mile 231)
- Nature and outdoors: Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 90), Serra do Rola-Moça State Park (mile 272)
- Museums and history: Holy Spirit Cathedral, Divinópolis (mile 209), Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (mile 231), Nair Mendes Moreira House of Culture (mile 268), Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha (mile 280), Kubitschek Residence Museum (mile 280)
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.
Serra do Rola-Moça State Park
On the edge of metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Serra do Rola-Moça State Park protects rugged ridges of the Espinhaço range where cerrado savanna meets Atlantic Forest.
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in an organic modern style, the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a chapel in the Pampulha area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
Kubitschek Residence Museum
On the shore of Lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, the Kubitschek Residence Museum occupies the former weekend home of Juscelino Kubitschek.
In Itabira itself
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Itabira
Known locally as Itabira Cathedral, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the municipality of Itabira, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Itabira
- Sete Lagoas to Itabira
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Itabira
- Barbacena to Itabira
- Juiz de Fora to Itabira
- Araxá to Itabira
- Petrópolis to Itabira
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 is the drive from Franca to Itabira?
About 7 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 344 miles.
How far is Itabira from Franca by car?
About 344 miles (553 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Franca to Itabira drive?
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 Itabira use?
In order: SP-345, MG-444, MG-344, MG-050, BR-262, BR-381, BR-040, MG-434, MG-129 and AMG-1210. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Franca to Itabira?
Closest to the road: Cachoeira da Capivara (waterfall, mile 90, 1 mi from the route); Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (museum, mile 231, 0.5 mi from the route); Vale Verde (distillery, mile 254, 2 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.