By road, Juiz de Fora and Araruama are about 168 miles (271 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 6 min of driving.
- 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.”
| Total distance | 168 mi (271 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | MG-353 → BR-040 → BR-116 → BR-493 → BR-101 → RJ-124 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Juiz de Fora to Araruama
BR-040 (85 mi) and BR-101 (22 mi) carry about 64% of the 168 miles. It runs through 2 states: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Juiz de Fora and Araruama
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG-353 | 0–5 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 5–6 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 6–91 | 85 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 91–92 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 92–105 | 13 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 105–122 | 17 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 122–144 | 22 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-124 | 144–162 | 18 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 162–168 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 24 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Araruama
- Nature and outdoors: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 58), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 64), Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 96), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 135)
- Museums and history: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 58), Cathedral of Petrópolis (mile 73), Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 75), Valongo Wharf (mile 93)
Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument
The Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument is a municipal natural monument, a protected area in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Serra dos Órgãos National Park
Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects the Serra dos Órgãos range between Petrópolis and Teresópolis, where a roughly 28 km traverse climbs past the Castelos do Açu to Pedra do Sino at 2,263 meters.
Cathedral of Petrópolis
Dedicated to the city's patron, Saint Peter of Alcantara, the Cathedral of Petrópolis is the final resting place of Dom Pedro II, Brazil's last emperor, and his family.
Casa Stefan Zweig
Founded in 2006, Casa Stefan Zweig is a writer's house museum in Petrópolis, set in the home where Stefan Zweig lived with his wife.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.
Once you reach Araruama
Coqueiral
Coqueiral is a beach in Araruama, Rio de Janeiro state, in a neighborhood of the same name along the Amaral Peixoto highway.
More drives to Araruama
- Barra Mansa to Araruama
- Angra dos Reis to Araruama
- Pindamonhangaba to Araruama
- Taubaté to Araruama
- São José dos Campos to Araruama
- Jacareí to Araruama
From Juiz de Fora to other places in Brazil
- Juiz de Fora to Niterói
- Juiz de Fora to Nova Friburgo
- Juiz de Fora to Cabo Frio
- Juiz de Fora to Rio das Ostras
- Juiz de Fora to Macaé
- Juiz de Fora to Bragança Paulista
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Juiz de Fora to Araruama?
About 4 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 168 miles.
How far is Araruama from Juiz de Fora by car?
About 168 miles (271 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 Juiz de Fora to Araruama?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Juiz de Fora to Araruama?
In order: MG-353, BR-040, BR-116, BR-493, BR-101 and RJ-124. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Juiz de Fora to Araruama?
Closest to the road: Casa Stefan Zweig (museum, mile 75, 3 mi from the route); Taquara Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 96, 2 mi from the route); Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 135, 1 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.