Plan on about 12 h 25 min of driving for the 486-mile (782 km) trip from Franca to Itaperuna, 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance by road | 486 mi (782 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-345 → MG-444 → MG-344 → MG-050 → MG-164 → MG-260 → BR-494 → BR-381 → BR-265 → BR-040 → MG-448 → MG-285 → MG-447 → AMG-0515 → MGC-265 → BR-356 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Franca to Itaperuna is like
MG-050 (129 mi) and BR-494 (63 mi) carry about 40% of the 486 miles. It runs through 3 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Franca to Itaperuna
| 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 | 54–183 | 129 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-164 | 183–197 | 14 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 197–199 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-260 | 199–214 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 214–237 | 23 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 237–252 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 252–292 | 40 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 292–295 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 295–330 | 35 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 330–341 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-448 | 341–358 | 17 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 358–385 | 27 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-285 | 385–415 | 30 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-447 | 415–423 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-0515 | 423–429 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 429–438 | 9 | Minas Gerais |
| MGC-265 | 438–449 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 449–453 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 453–485 | 32 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 485–486 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 23 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
- Mile 466 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Stops between Franca and Itaperuna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Loucura (mile 327)
- Nature and outdoors: Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 90)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (mile 294), Memorial Tancredo Neves (mile 294), Casa do Padre Toledo (mile 298), Museu da Loucura (mile 327)
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.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei
Also called the São João del Rei Cathedral, this Catholic shrine is a protected heritage site known for colonial-era art, with gold decoration, paintings and statues inside.
Memorial Tancredo Neves
This museum in São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, covers the life and political career of Tancredo Neves, the former governor and first civilian president elected after military rule, who died before taking office in 1985.
Casa do Padre Toledo
In Tiradentes, Minas Gerais, this 18th-century mansion was the home of Father Carlos Correia de Toledo e Melo.
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Itaperuna
- Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna
- Niterói to Itaperuna
- Barra Mansa to Itaperuna
- Itaguaí to Itaperuna
- Pindamonhangaba to Itaperuna
- São José dos Campos to Itaperuna
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 Itaperuna?
About 12 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 486 miles.
What is the driving distance from Franca to Itaperuna?
About 486 miles (782 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 Itaperuna drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Franca to Itaperuna?
In order: SP-345, MG-444, MG-344, MG-050, MG-164, MG-260, BR-494, BR-381, BR-265, BR-040, MG-448, MG-285, MG-447, AMG-0515, MGC-265 and BR-356. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Franca and Itaperuna?
Closest to the road: Cachoeira da Capivara (waterfall, mile 90, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (cathedral, mile 294, 2 mi from the route); Museu da Loucura (museum, mile 327, 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.