Plan on about 7 h 59 min of driving for the 290-mile (467 km) trip from Governador Valadares to Barbacena, 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 | 290 mi (467 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-381 → MG-425 → LMG-760 → MG-320 → BR-262 → MG-329 → MG-262 → MG-129 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
On the road from Governador Valadares to Barbacena
BR-381 (63 mi) and MG-262 (45 mi) carry about 37% of the 290 miles. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Governador Valadares to Barbacena, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 2–65 | 63 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 65–68 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 68–75 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 75–80 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-425 | 80–85 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| LMG-760 | 85–116 | 31 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-320 | 116–121 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 121–137 | 16 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-329 | 137–158 | 21 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-262 | 158–203 | 45 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-129 | 203–244 | 41 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 244–246 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 246–288 | 42 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 288–290 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
Breaking up the drive: stops between Governador Valadares and Barbacena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (mile 73), Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (mile 203)
- Nature and outdoors: Rio Doce State Park (mile 85)
- Museums and history: Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (mile 73), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 163), Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (mile 203), Casa Guignard museum (mile 212)
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.
Rio Doce State Park
Rio Doce State Park in Minas Gerais protects a large remnant of Atlantic Forest along with a system of lagoons holding many species of native fish.
Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge
Opened in 1911 to serve the Leopoldina Railway, the Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge is a metal bridge over the Piranga River in Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo is a Rococo church in the Brazilian town of Mariana, worth a stop for travelers passing through.
Casa Guignard museum
Officially opened in 1986 in Ouro Preto, the Museu Casa Guignard holds works by painter and draftsman Alberto da Veiga Guignard, who featured the town in many of them.
Once you reach Barbacena
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 Barbacena
- Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena
- Niterói to Barbacena
- Pouso Alegre to Barbacena
- Araruama to Barbacena
- Cabo Frio to Barbacena
- Poços de Caldas to Barbacena
From Governador Valadares to other places in Brazil
- Governador Valadares to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Governador Valadares to Sete Lagoas
- Governador Valadares to Fumaça
- Governador Valadares to Passos
- Governador Valadares to Pouso Alegre
- Governador Valadares to Trindade
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Governador Valadares to Barbacena?
About 7 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 290 miles.
How far is Barbacena from Governador Valadares by car?
About 290 miles (467 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 Governador Valadares to Barbacena?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Governador Valadares to Barbacena?
In order: BR-381, MG-425, LMG-760, MG-320, BR-262, MG-329, MG-262, MG-129 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Governador Valadares to Barbacena?
Closest to the road: Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (cathedral, mile 73, 0.2 mi from the route); Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (historic bridge, mile 163, 1 mi from the route); Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (church, mile 203, 0.6 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.