Juazeiro do Norte to Balsas is about 546 road miles (878 km): roughly 11 h 36 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 | 546 mi (878 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-122 → CE-292 → BR-316 → BR-230 |
| States on the route | Ceará, Pernambuco, Piauí, Maranhão |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Juazeiro do Norte–Balsas drive in a few lines
BR-230 (411 mi) and BR-122 (87 mi) carry about 91% of the 546 miles. It runs through 4 states: Ceará, Pernambuco, Piauí, Maranhão. Of the 4 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Juazeiro do Norte to Balsas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Ceará |
| BR-122 | 3–9 | 6 | Ceará |
| CE-292 | 9–12 | 3 | Ceará |
| BR-122 | 12–93 | 81 | Ceará, Pernambuco |
| BR-316 | 93–134 | 41 | Pernambuco, Piauí |
| BR-230 | 134–545 | 411 | Piauí, Maranhão |
| local roads | 545–546 | 1 | Maranhão |
- Mile 29 of this route: Ceará → Pernambuco (state line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Pernambuco → Piauí (state line)
- Mile 294 of this route: Piauí → Maranhão (state line)
Stops between Juazeiro do Norte and Balsas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Penha da França de Crato (mile 7), Catedral de Picos (mile 171), Museu Ozildo Albano (mile 172), Casa do Cônego (mile 224)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Penha da França de Crato (mile 7), Catedral de Picos (mile 171), Museu Ozildo Albano (mile 172), Casa do Cônego (mile 224)
Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Penha da França de Crato
Seat of the Diocese of Crato, the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da Penha was built in 1745 and renovated in 1817.
Catedral de Picos
Known as the Cathedral of Picos, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Remedies is a Catholic church in Picos, Piauí, and the seat of the Diocese of Picos.
Museu Ozildo Albano
Collector José Albano de Macedo, known as Ozildo Albano, founded this museum in central Picos in 1968, gathering household items, documents, photos, sacred art, books and records; it focuses on the Guaribas River valley's heritage.
Casa do Cônego
Facing the square of the Nossa Senhora das Vitórias mother church in Oeiras, Casa do Cônego is a 19th-century building listed by the Piauí Cultural Foundation in 1986.
From Juazeiro do Norte to other places in Brazil
- Juazeiro do Norte to Parnamirim
- Juazeiro do Norte to Caxias
- Juazeiro do Norte to Santo Antônio de Jesus
- Juazeiro do Norte to Parnaíba
- Juazeiro do Norte to Codó
- Juazeiro do Norte to Morro de São Paulo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Juazeiro do Norte to Balsas?
About 11 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 546 miles.
What is the driving distance from Juazeiro do Norte to Balsas?
About 546 miles (878 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 Juazeiro do Norte to Balsas?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Juazeiro do Norte to Balsas?
In order: BR-122, CE-292, BR-316 and BR-230. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Juazeiro do Norte and Balsas?
Closest to the road: Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Penha da França de Crato (cathedral, mile 7, 0.6 mi from the route); Catedral de Picos (cathedral, mile 171, 0.4 mi from the route); Casa do Cônego (historic site, mile 224, 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.