Itajaí to Novo Hamburgo is about 342 road miles (550 km): roughly 6 h 58 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.”
| Total distance | 342 mi (550 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-290 → ERS-118 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Itajaí to Novo Hamburgo
BR-101 (264 mi) and BR-290 (46 mi) carry about 91% of the 342 miles. It runs through 2 states: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Itajaí to Novo Hamburgo: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-101 | 4–268 | 264 | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 268–271 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 271–317 | 46 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-118 | 317–331 | 14 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 331–341 | 10 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 341–342 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 216 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (state line)
Places worth a stop between Itajaí and Novo Hamburgo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Praia do Estaleirinho (mile 15), Praia da Ilhota (mile 17), Teatro Adolpho Mello (mile 57), Museu Willy Zumblick (mile 135), Morro de Osório Protected Area (mile 273), Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 335)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Estaleirinho (mile 15), Praia da Ilhota (mile 17), Praia de Naufragados (mile 75), Praia do Siriú (mile 86), Guarita State Park (mile 219)
- Museums and history: Museu Willy Zumblick (mile 135), Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 335)
Praia do Estaleirinho
The first of six beaches along Balneário Camboriú's Interpraias road, Praia do Estaleirinho has coarse sand and plenty of waves, and sits a little over 10 km from downtown.
Praia da Ilhota
On Itapema's coast in Santa Catarina, Praia da Ilhota pairs clear water and a wide strip of coarse golden sand with a string of seafood spots, and its slightly choppy sea draws local surfers.
Teatro Adolpho Mello
Founded in 1854 in the historic center of São José, Santa Catarina, Teatro Adolpho Mello opened its building two years later and is the oldest surviving theater in the state.
Praia de Naufragados
Praia de Naufragados is a beach about 1.45 km long on Santa Catarina Island in Florianópolis, reachable only by a 4 km walking trail.
Praia do Siriú
Praia do Siriú in Garopaba, Santa Catarina, is the municipality's longest beach, with about 4 km of sand.
Museu Willy Zumblick
In downtown Tubarão, Santa Catarina, the Museu Willy Zumblick keeps a permanent exhibition of part of the collection of local-born artist Willy Zumblick.
Guarita State Park
Officially Parque Estadual José Lutzenberger, Guarita State Park in Rio Grande do Sul protects a promontory on the South Atlantic Ocean.
Morro de Osório Protected Area
Created in 1994, the Morro de Osório Environmental Protection Area is a municipal conservation unit of Osório, Rio Grande do Sul, originally covering about 6,896 acres.
Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo"
Dedicated to the history of São Leopoldo and German colonization in Rio Grande do Sul, the Museu Histórico Visconde de São Leopoldo keeps a collection of objects, images and documents about the settlers. It is a privately run museum.
In Novo Hamburgo itself
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis Gonzaga
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis Gonzaga is the main church of Novo Hamburgo, a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Schmitt-Presser Museum
In Novo Hamburgo's Hamburgo Velho district, the Schmitt-Presser Museum is a history museum set in a mansion built in the first half of the 1800s by German immigrant Johann Peter Schmitt.
More drives to Novo Hamburgo
- Ponta Grossa to Novo Hamburgo
- Curitiba to Novo Hamburgo
- Joinville to Novo Hamburgo
- Blumenau to Novo Hamburgo
- São José to Novo Hamburgo
- Florianópolis to Novo Hamburgo
From Itajaí to other places in Brazil
- Itajaí to Paranaguá
- Itajaí to Guarapuava
- Itajaí to Passo Fundo
- Itajaí to São Leopoldo
- Itajaí to Itanhaém
- Itajaí to Apucarana
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Itajaí to Novo Hamburgo?
About 6 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
How far is Novo Hamburgo from Itajaí by car?
About 342 miles (550 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 Itajaí to Novo Hamburgo?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Itajaí to Novo Hamburgo?
In order: BR-101, BR-290, ERS-118 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Itajaí to Novo Hamburgo?
Closest to the road: Praia da Ilhota (beach, mile 17, 0.3 mi from the route); Museu Willy Zumblick (museum, mile 135, 0.2 mi from the route); Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (museum, mile 335, 0.5 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.