Plan on about 6 h 38 min of driving for the 302-mile (486 km) trip from Itanhaém to Lavras, 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance by road | 302 mi (486 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-055 → SP-160 → SP-010 → SP-008 → BR-381 → BR-265 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Itanhaém–Lavras drive in a few lines
SP-008 (156 mi) and BR-381 (40 mi) carry about 65% of the 302 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Itanhaém to Lavras: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-055 | 1–28 | 27 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 28–32 | 4 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 32–63 | 31 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 63–73 | 10 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 73–76 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SP-010 | 76–96 | 20 | São Paulo |
| SP-008 | 96–252 | 156 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 252–292 | 40 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 292–300 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 300–302 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 133 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Places worth a stop between Itanhaém and Lavras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu de Ciências da Universidade de São Paulo (mile 62), Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 63)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia da Tupi (mile 22), Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 63), Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 104)
- Museums and history: Pinacoteca de São Bernardo do Campo (mile 58), Museu de Ciências da Universidade de São Paulo (mile 62), Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 63), Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of São Paulo (mile 67), Museum of Sacred Art of São Paulo (mile 73), Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 104)
Praia da Tupi
Praia da Tupi is a beach in Praia Grande, São Paulo state, with yellowish sand and blue water; it is one of the city's less crowded beaches and a favorite with surfers.
Pinacoteca de São Bernardo do Campo
This municipal art gallery in São Bernardo do Campo studies and shows modern and contemporary art, with works by Tomie Ohtake, Waldomiro de Deus and Wesley Duke Lee in its collection.
Museu de Ciências da Universidade de São Paulo
The University of São Paulo's Science Museum, created in 2005, brings the exact, human and natural sciences, technology and the arts to the public beyond the campus.
Botanical Garden of São Paulo
Next to the São Paulo Zoo, the Botanical Garden of São Paulo spans 406 acres inside Fontes do Ipiranga State Park, in the Água Funda district of the city's South Zone.
Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of São Paulo
On Rua Vergueiro in the Paraíso area of São Paulo, the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and is dedicated to Paul the Apostle.
Museum of Sacred Art of São Paulo
In the left wing of the Luz Monastery, founded in 1774 by Frei Galvão, the Museum of Sacred Art of São Paulo collects and displays Brazilian sacred art.
Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande
Topping the Serra do Itapetinga at about 1,400 meters, Pedra Grande is Atibaia's highest point, a protected state natural monument where hang gliders and paragliders launch and a trail leads to views over nearby towns.
Once you reach Lavras
Museu Bi Moreira
On the historic campus of the Federal University of Lavras, Museu Bi Moreira holds around five thousand historical, ethnographic, archaeological and science-and-technology artifacts tied to the history of Lavras and the university.
More drives to Lavras
- Barbacena to Lavras
- Juiz de Fora to Lavras
- Barra Mansa to Lavras
- Teresópolis to Lavras
- Itu to Lavras
- Rio de Janeiro to Lavras
From Itanhaém to other places in Brazil
- Itanhaém to Paranapiacaba
- Itanhaém to Ituiutaba
- Itanhaém to Penedo
- Itanhaém to Barra do Piraí
- Itanhaém to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Itanhaém to Trindade
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Itanhaém to Lavras?
About 6 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 302 miles.
How far is Lavras from Itanhaém by car?
About 302 miles (486 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 Itanhaém to Lavras?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Itanhaém to Lavras?
In order: SP-055, SP-160, SP-010, SP-008, BR-381 and BR-265. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Itanhaém to Lavras?
Closest to the road: Praia da Tupi (beach, mile 22, 3 mi from the route); Museu de Ciências da Universidade de São Paulo (museum, mile 62, 0.6 mi from the route); Botanical Garden of São Paulo (museum, mile 63, 0.7 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.