Itajaí to Rio Grande is about 526 road miles (846 km): roughly 11 h 15 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance | 526 mi (846 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-290 → BR-116 → BR-392 → ERS-734 |
| States on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Itajaí to Rio Grande drive plays out
BR-101 (264 mi) and BR-116 (95 mi) carry about 68% of the 526 miles. It runs through 2 states: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Itajaí to Rio Grande, road by road
| 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 | 271–329 | 58 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 329–424 | 95 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 424–483 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 483–486 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 486–518 | 32 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 518–519 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-734 | 519–523 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 523–526 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 216 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (state line)
What to see on the way from Itajaí to Rio Grande
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Willy Zumblick (mile 135), Morro de Osório Protected Area (mile 273), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 424)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Balneário do Estreito (mile 55), Praia do Ribeirão da Ilha (mile 68), Praia da Guarita (mile 219)
- Museums and history: Museu Willy Zumblick (mile 135), Museu Antropológico do Rio Grande do Sul (mile 331), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 424)
Praia do Balneário do Estreito
Praia do Balneário do Estreito stretches 1.8 km on the mainland side of Florianópolis, with views of small islands in North Bay, the Hercílio Luz Bridge and, to the other side, the city of Biguaçu.
Praia do Ribeirão da Ilha
On the south bay of Florianópolis, Praia do Ribeirão da Ilha is made up of several small beaches. Ribeirão da Ilha was the first part of Florianópolis to be settled, inhabited by the Carijó people in the 16th century.
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.
Praia da Guarita
Guarita Beach in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, is a public beach resort along the city's coast.
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 Antropológico do Rio Grande do Sul
Run by the Rio Grande do Sul State Culture Secretariat, the Museu Antropológico do Rio Grande do Sul is an anthropology museum in Porto Alegre.
Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves
Created by state decree in 1972 and linked to Rio Grande do Sul's culture department, this historic park stands on the old Sesmaria do Cristal, land once granted to the father of Farroupilha leader Bento Gonçalves da Silva.
Theatro Sete de Abril
Opened in 1834 in Pelotas, Theatro Sete de Abril dates from the charqueada (salted beef) economic cycle, when Pelotas was among Brazil's wealthiest cities.
Arriving in Rio Grande
Catedral de São Pedro
Seat of the Diocese of Rio Grande, the Catedral de São Pedro in the city of Rio Grande is a church of historic and artistic value whose construction began in 1755.
Museu Antártico
The Museu Antártico is a science museum in the city of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, and part of the museum complex run by the local university foundation.
Eco-Museu da Ilha da Pólvora
Opened in April 1999 in the city of Rio Grande, the Eco-Museu da Ilha da Pólvora was created with support from the Brazilian Army and the Federal University of Rio Grande Foundation.
More drives to Rio Grande
- Porto Alegre to Rio Grande
- São Leopoldo to Rio Grande
- Novo Hamburgo to Rio Grande
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Rio Grande
- Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande
- Passo Fundo to Rio Grande
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 Novo Hamburgo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Itajaí to Rio Grande?
About 11 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 526 miles.
What is the driving distance from Itajaí to Rio Grande?
About 526 miles (846 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 Rio Grande?
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 Rio Grande?
In order: BR-101, BR-290, BR-116, BR-392 and ERS-734. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Itajaí and Rio Grande?
Closest to the road: Museu Willy Zumblick (museum, mile 135, 0.2 mi from the route); Morro de Osório Protected Area (environmental protection area, mile 273, 0.8 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 424, 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.