Plan on about 9 h 9 min of driving for the 326-mile (525 km) trip from Ipatinga to Barra do Piraí, 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Total distance | 326 mi (525 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | MG-425 → LMG-760 → MG-320 → BR-262 → MG-329 → BR-120 → BR-265 → MG-133 → MG-353 → AMG-3085 → BR-040 → RJ-131 → BR-393 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Ipatinga–Barra do Piraí drive in a few lines
BR-120 (64 mi) and BR-393 (47 mi) carry about 34% of the 326 miles. It runs through 2 states: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Ipatinga to Barra do Piraí: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 11–16 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-425 | 16–21 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| LMG-760 | 21–53 | 32 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-320 | 53–57 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 57–73 | 16 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-329 | 73–96 | 23 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 96–97 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-120 | 97–161 | 64 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 161–163 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 163–184 | 21 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-133 | 184–212 | 28 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-353 | 212–222 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-3085 | 222–229 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 229–267 | 38 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 267–269 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-131 | 269–277 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-393 | 277–324 | 47 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 324–326 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 263 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Stops between Ipatinga and Barra do Piraí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (mile 9), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 97), Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte (mile 298), Museu Casa da Hera (mile 313)
- Nature and outdoors: Rio Doce State Park (mile 21), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 127), Serra da Concórdia State Park (mile 313)
- Museums and history: Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (mile 9), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 97), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 127), Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte (mile 298), Museu Casa da Hera (mile 313)
- With kids: João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 127)
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.
João Moojen Zoology Museum
Part of the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas Gerais, the João Moojen Zoology Museum is a public natural history museum tied to the Department of Animal Biology.
Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte
Dating from the coffee era in Rio de Janeiro state's Paraíba Valley, Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte is a historic estate listed by the state heritage institute.
Museu Casa da Hera
Also known as Chácara da Hera, this house museum in central Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro state, shows how a wealthy family lived at the height of the Paraíba Valley coffee boom.
Serra da Concórdia State Park
Serra da Concórdia State Park (Parque Estadual da Serra da Concórdia) is a state park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
When you get to Barra do Piraí
Santana Cathedral
Dedicated to St. Anne, this cathedral in Barra do Piraí is the seat of the Diocese of Barra do Piraí–Volta Redonda; Emperor Pedro II attended the laying of its cornerstone during a visit to the parish.
Fazenda São João da Prosperidade
Fazenda São João da Prosperidade is a historic rural estate in Barra do Piraí, Rio de Janeiro state, founded in the 19th century by Antônio Gonçalves de Morais.
More drives to Barra do Piraí
- Pindamonhangaba to Barra do Piraí
- Taubaté to Barra do Piraí
- São José dos Campos to Barra do Piraí
- Jacareí to Barra do Piraí
- São Paulo to Barra do Piraí
- Bragança Paulista to Barra do Piraí
From Ipatinga to other places in Brazil
- Ipatinga to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Ipatinga to Ubá
- Ipatinga to Barbacena
- Ipatinga to Nova Friburgo
- Ipatinga to Passos
- Ipatinga to Barra Mansa
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ipatinga to Barra do Piraí?
About 9 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 326 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ipatinga to Barra do Piraí?
About 326 miles (525 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 Ipatinga to Barra do Piraí?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Ipatinga to Barra do Piraí?
In order: MG-425, LMG-760, MG-320, BR-262, MG-329, BR-120, BR-265, MG-133, MG-353, AMG-3085, BR-040, RJ-131 and BR-393. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ipatinga to Barra do Piraí?
Closest to the road: Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Coronel Fabriciano (cathedral, mile 9, 0.2 mi from the route); Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (historic bridge, mile 97, 0.2 mi from the route); Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte (historic estate, mile 298, 0.1 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.