Itaguaí to Itabira is about 359 road miles (578 km): roughly 8 h 56 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 359 mi (578 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-493 → BR-040 → MGC-356 → BR-381 → MG-434 → MG-129 → AMG-1210 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Itaguaí to Itabira
BR-040 (241 mi) and BR-493 (37 mi) carry about 77% of the 359 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Itaguaí and Itabira
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 6–43 | 37 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 43–44 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 44–162 | 118 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 162–165 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 165–288 | 123 | Minas Gerais |
| MGC-356 | 288–293 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 293–299 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 299–300 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 300–336 | 36 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-434 | 336–349 | 13 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-129 | 349–352 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1210 | 352–358 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 358–359 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 112 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Itaguaí to Itabira
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): MM Gerdau - Mines and Metal Museum (mile 293), Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (mile 297)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 74), Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (mile 297)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 43), Imperial Museum of Brazil (mile 65), Museu da Loucura (mile 191), MM Gerdau - Mines and Metal Museum (mile 293), Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (mile 297)
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
Imperial Museum of Brazil
Housed in the Petrópolis Imperial Palace, the former summer residence of Emperor Pedro II, the Imperial Museum sits in the historic center of Petrópolis; work on the palace began in 1845.
Serra dos Órgãos National Park
Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects the Serra dos Órgãos range between Petrópolis and Teresópolis, where a roughly 28 km traverse climbs past the Castelos do Açu to Pedra do Sino at 2,263 meters.
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.
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, this hilltop sanctuary in Congonhas is famous for Aleijadinho's 12 soapstone prophets on the front terraces and six chapels holding 64 life-size cedar figures of the Passion.
MM Gerdau - Mines and Metal Museum
Part of the Praça da Liberdade cultural circuit in Belo Horizonte, the Mines and Metal Museum opened in 2010, with architecture by Paulo Mendes da Rocha and exhibit design by Marcello Dantas.
Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
The Federal University of Minas Gerais runs this natural history museum and botanical garden in Belo Horizonte, with an auditorium, a plant nursery, a lagoon, an ecological amphitheater and a sensory garden.
Pampulha Modern Ensemble
Laid out around the artificial Lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, the Pampulha Modern Ensemble is an urban project that includes a casino, a ballroom, the Golf Yacht Club and the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi.
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 Itaguaí to other places in Brazil
- Itaguaí to Itanhaém
- Itaguaí to Trindade
- Itaguaí to Assis
- Itaguaí to Ourinhos
- Itaguaí to Itaperuna
- Itaguaí to Muriaé
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Itaguaí to Itabira?
About 8 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 359 miles.
What is the driving distance from Itaguaí to Itabira?
About 359 miles (578 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 Itaguaí to Itabira drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Itaguaí to Itabira?
In order: BR-493, BR-040, MGC-356, BR-381, 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 Itaguaí to Itabira?
Closest to the road: Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos (calvary, mile 246, 1 mi from the route); MM Gerdau - Mines and Metal Museum (museum, mile 293, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (natural history museum, mile 297, 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.