Itapipoca to Mandacaru is about 327 road miles (527 km): roughly 9 h 2 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Total distance | 327 mi (527 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | CE-354 → CE-240 → BR-222 → CE-187 → CE-232 → PI-213 → BR-343 → BR-402 → MA-346 → MA-345 → MA-034 → MA-315 |
| States on the route | Ceará, Piauí, Maranhão |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
The Itapipoca–Mandacaru drive in a few lines
BR-222 (58 mi) and CE-240 (51 mi) carry about 33% of the 327 miles. It runs through 3 states: Ceará, Piauí, Maranhão. None of the 2 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Itapipoca to Mandacaru
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Ceará |
| CE-354 | 2–7 | 5 | Ceará |
| CE-240 | 7–58 | 51 | Ceará |
| connecting roads | 58–60 | 2 | Ceará |
| BR-222 | 60–118 | 58 | Ceará |
| CE-187 | 118–136 | 18 | Ceará |
| connecting roads | 136–137 | 1 | Ceará |
| CE-232 | 137–158 | 21 | Ceará |
| PI-213 | 158–186 | 28 | Ceará, Piauí |
| BR-343 | 186–216 | 30 | Piauí |
| BR-402 | 216–225 | 9 | Piauí |
| MA-346 | 225–234 | 9 | Maranhão |
| BR-402 | 234–238 | 4 | Maranhão |
| MA-345 | 238–250 | 12 | Maranhão |
| MA-034 | 250–272 | 22 | Maranhão |
| local roads | 272–276 | 4 | Maranhão |
| MA-315 | 276–310 | 34 | Maranhão |
| local roads | 310–327 | 17 | Maranhão |
- Mile 162 of this route: Ceará → Piauí (state line)
- Mile 225 of this route: Piauí → Maranhão (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Itapipoca and Mandacaru
- Nature and outdoors: Ubajara National Park (mile 100)
- Museums and history: Museu do Eclipse (mile 63)
Museu do Eclipse
Sobral opened the Museu do Eclipse on May 29, 1999, marking eighty years since the confirmation of the Theory of Relativity.
Ubajara National Park
Ubajara National Park is a national park in the state of Ceará, best known for the Ubajara grotto, a cave that gives the park its reputation.
In Mandacaru itself
Preguiças Lighthouse
Also called Mandacaru Lighthouse, Preguiças Lighthouse in Maranhão is a white, tapered concrete tower marked by four black bands, with four ribs and a double gallery.
More drives to Mandacaru
From Itapipoca to other places in Brazil
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Itapipoca to Mandacaru?
About 9 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 327 miles.
How far is Mandacaru from Itapipoca by car?
About 327 miles (527 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 Itapipoca to Mandacaru drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Itapipoca to Mandacaru?
In order: CE-354, CE-240, BR-222, CE-187, CE-232, PI-213, BR-343, BR-402, MA-346, MA-345, MA-034 and MA-315. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Itapipoca and Mandacaru?
Closest to the road: Museu do Eclipse (museum, mile 63, 1 mi from the route); Ubajara National Park (national park, mile 100, 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.