Itaperuna to Aracruz is about 203 road miles (327 km): roughly 5 h 25 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 by road | 203 mi (327 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-356 → RJ-186 → ES-297 → BR-101 → ES-257 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Itaperuna to Aracruz is like
BR-101 (143 mi) and ES-297 (29 mi) carry about 85% of the 203 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Itaperuna to Aracruz: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| BR-356 | 0–11 | 11 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-186 | 11–22 | 11 | Rio de Janeiro |
| ES-297 | 22–51 | 29 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 51–194 | 143 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-257 | 194–203 | 9 | Espírito Santo |
- Mile 47 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Aracruz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 185)
- Nature and outdoors: Itabira Natural Monument (mile 81), Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 86), Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 133), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 153), Fonte Grande State Park (mile 156)
- Museums and history: Itabira Natural Monument (mile 81), Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 158), Ruins of the Church of São José do Queimado (mile 167), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 185)
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
Frade e a Freira Natural Monument
Created by state decree in 2007, the Frade e a Freira Natural Monument is a state-run protected area in Espírito Santo spanning parts of Itapemirim, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and Vargem Alta.
Paulo César Vinha State Park
Along the Atlantic shore in Guarapari, Paulo César Vinha State Park protects dunes, lagoons and marshes. Its trails lead to the beach and to Lagoa de Caraís.
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument protects a small sugarloaf-shaped hill on the shore of the bay south of Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
Fonte Grande State Park
Fonte Grande State Park is a state-protected park in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.
Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras
On Ilha das Caieiras in Vitória, Espírito Santo, this history museum is named for Manoel Passos Lyrio; an expansion begun in 2022 adds a section devoted to local fishermen.
Ruins of the Church of São José do Queimado
In the Queimado district of Serra, Espírito Santo, these church ruins stand as a historic reminder of the Queimado Insurrection, an 1849 slave uprising.
Casa da Cultura de Fundão
Once the Agostini family residence, this two-story house in Fundão is protected as cultural heritage by Espírito Santo state and now works as a museum.
Buddha of Ibiraçu
Beside the BR-101 highway in Ibiraçu, a 35-meter Buddha statue rises at the Morro da Vargem Zen monastery. The giant figure, part of the monastery grounds, was officially inaugurated in August 2021.
More drives to Aracruz
- Cariacica to Aracruz
- Vitória to Aracruz
- Guarapari to Aracruz
- Rio das Ostras to Aracruz
- Itabira to Aracruz
- Teresópolis to Aracruz
From Itaperuna to other places in Brazil
- Itaperuna to Barra do Piraí
- Itaperuna to Trindade
- Itaperuna to Paranapiacaba
- Itaperuna to Santa Leopoldina
- Itaperuna to Itaúnas
- Itaperuna to Caraíva
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Itaperuna to Aracruz?
About 5 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 203 miles.
What is the driving distance from Itaperuna to Aracruz?
About 203 miles (327 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 Itaperuna to Aracruz drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Itaperuna to Aracruz?
In order: BR-356, RJ-186, ES-297, BR-101 and ES-257. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Itaperuna to Aracruz?
Closest to the road: Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (protected area, mile 86, 1 mi from the route); Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 185, 0.1 mi from the route); Buddha of Ibiraçu (statue, mile 192, 2 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.