Franca to Teófilo Otoni is about 557 road miles (896 km): roughly 13 h 6 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 | 557 mi (896 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-345 → MG-444 → MG-344 → MG-050 → BR-262 → BR-381 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Franca to Teófilo Otoni drive plays out
MG-050 (195 mi) and BR-381 (186 mi) carry about 68% of the 557 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Franca to Teófilo Otoni: the road sequence
| 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 | 408–473 | 65 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 473–475 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-116 | 475–555 | 80 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 555–557 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 23 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Stops between Franca and Teófilo Otoni
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (mile 231), Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (mile 402)
- Nature and outdoors: Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 90)
- Museums and history: Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (mile 231), Francisco Firmo de Mattos Filho Cultural Center (mile 268), Casa de Cacos (mile 269), Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha (mile 280), Kubitschek Residence Museum (mile 280), Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (mile 402), St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral, Governador Valadares (mile 473)
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.
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.
Francisco Firmo de Mattos Filho Cultural Center
The Centro Cultural Francisco Firmo de Mattos Filho is a public museum set in three historic buildings in Contagem, remnants of the town's original Portuguese Crown tax post.
Casa de Cacos
Casa de Cacos in Contagem is a museum and an example of fantastic architecture, built and decorated entirely by geologist Carlos Luís de Almeida and considered the only one of its kind in Brazil.
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.
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.
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 Teófilo Otoni
- Serra to Teófilo Otoni
- Cariacica to Teófilo Otoni
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Teófilo Otoni
- Divinópolis to Teófilo Otoni
- Juiz de Fora to Teófilo Otoni
- Teresópolis to Teófilo Otoni
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 Teófilo Otoni?
About 13 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 557 miles.
What is the driving distance from Franca to Teófilo Otoni?
About 557 miles (896 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 Teófilo Otoni?
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 Teófilo Otoni?
In order: SP-345, MG-444, MG-344, MG-050, BR-262, BR-381, BR-040 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Franca and Teófilo Otoni?
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); Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (cathedral, mile 402, 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.