Itaguaí to Itaperuna is about 215 road miles (346 km): roughly 5 h 44 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 by road | 215 mi (346 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-493 → BR-040 → CMG-393 → RJ-186 → RJ-198 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
What the drive from Itaguaí to Itaperuna is like
BR-040 (44 mi) and RJ-186 (43 mi) carry about 40% of the 215 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Itaguaí to Itaperuna
| 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 | 44–88 | 44 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 88–132 | 44 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 132–133 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| CMG-393 | 133–161 | 28 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 161–162 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| RJ-186 | 162–205 | 43 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-198 | 205–214 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 214–215 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 132 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
- Mile 167 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Itaguaí and Itaperuna
- Nature and outdoors: Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 51), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 74), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 78)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 43), Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 61), Cathedral of Petrópolis (mile 65), Santos Dumont House Museum (mile 65), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 78)
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.
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Casa Stefan Zweig
Founded in 2006, Casa Stefan Zweig is a writer's house museum in Petrópolis, set in the home where Stefan Zweig lived with his wife.
Cathedral of Petrópolis
Dedicated to the city's patron, Saint Peter of Alcantara, the Cathedral of Petrópolis is the final resting place of Dom Pedro II, Brazil's last emperor, and his family.
Santos Dumont House Museum
Known as A Encantada, the Santos Dumont House Museum in Petrópolis is the house built in 1918 for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont on a steep hillside near the city center.
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.
Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument
The Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument is a municipal natural monument, a protected area in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
More drives to Itaperuna
- Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna
- Niterói to Itaperuna
- Barra Mansa to Itaperuna
- Pindamonhangaba to Itaperuna
- São José dos Campos to Itaperuna
- Jacareí to Itaperuna
From Itaguaí to other places in Brazil
- Itaguaí to Itanhaém
- Itaguaí to Trindade
- Itaguaí to Assis
- Itaguaí to Ourinhos
- Itaguaí to Muriaé
- Itaguaí to Ubá
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Itaguaí to Itaperuna?
About 5 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 215 miles.
What is the driving distance from Itaguaí to Itaperuna?
About 215 miles (346 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 Itaperuna drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Itaguaí to Itaperuna use?
In order: BR-493, BR-040, CMG-393, RJ-186 and RJ-198. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Itaguaí and Itaperuna?
Closest to the road: Taquara Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 51, 3 mi from the route); Casa Stefan Zweig (museum, mile 61, 2 mi from the route); Santos Dumont House Museum (museum, mile 65, 3 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.