Juiz de Fora to Botucatu is about 428 road miles (688 km): roughly 8 h 59 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.”
| Total distance | 428 mi (688 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | MG-353 → Ramal de Jacutinga → BR-494 → RJ-143 → RJ-159 → BR-116 → SP-060 → SP-015 → SP-280 → SP-209 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Juiz de Fora to Botucatu drive plays out
BR-116 (137 mi) and SP-280 (118 mi) carry about 60% of the 428 miles. It runs through 3 states: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Juiz de Fora to Botucatu, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG-353 | 0–51 | 51 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 51–52 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Ramal de Jacutinga | 52–73 | 21 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-494 | 73–91 | 18 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-143 | 91–104 | 13 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 104–106 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-159 | 106–109 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 109–246 | 137 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 246–280 | 34 | São Paulo |
| SP-015 | 280–290 | 10 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 290–295 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SP-280 | 295–413 | 118 | São Paulo |
| SP-209 | 413–426 | 13 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 426–428 | 2 | São Paulo |
- Mile 46 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 136 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Juiz de Fora and Botucatu
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santa Clara Farm, Santa Rita do Jacutinga (mile 64), Itatiaia National Park (mile 127), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 180), Dimitri Sensaud de Lavaud Museum (mile 293)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 127), Parque Geológico do Varvito (mile 334)
- Museums and history: Santa Clara Farm, Santa Rita do Jacutinga (mile 64), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 180), Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos (mile 227), Immigration Museum of the State of São Paulo (mile 280), Basilica of the Most Blessed Sacrament, São Paulo (mile 283), Casa Guilherme de Almeida (mile 285), Dimitri Sensaud de Lavaud Museum (mile 293)
Santa Clara Farm, Santa Rita do Jacutinga
Listed as a tourist attraction, Santa Clara Farm (Fazenda Santa Clara) lies in the municipality of Santa Rita de Jacutinga in Minas Gerais.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Construction of the current basilica at Aparecida started in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980. As Brazil's National Shrine, it keeps the image of Our Lady Aparecida found by fishermen in 1717.
Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos
Exhibitions, a specialized library and a toy library make up the Museum of Folklore, which has focused on Brazilian popular culture since 1997 from its home in São José dos Campos' Parque da Cidade.
Immigration Museum of the State of São Paulo
Set in the Immigrant Inn building, opened in 1887 in São Paulo's Mooca neighborhood, the Immigration Museum of the State of São Paulo tells the story of immigration.
Basilica of the Most Blessed Sacrament, São Paulo
This Catholic basilica stands at the corner of Cásper Líbero Avenue and Santa Ifigênia Street in São Paulo's Santa Ifigênia district.
Casa Guilherme de Almeida
Casa Guilherme de Almeida is a biographical and literary museum in São Paulo, founded in 1979 and run as a public museum under the São Paulo State Secretariat of Culture.
Dimitri Sensaud de Lavaud Museum
Also called the Osasco Museum, the Dimitri Sensaud de Lavaud Museum occupies a 19th-century mansion built by Antônio Agú for banker Giovanni Brícola in Osasco, Greater São Paulo.
Parque Geológico do Varvito
Banded rock walls line a former quarry in Itu, where Parque Geológico do Varvito shows off varvite, sediment that settled in glacial lakes some 280 million years ago.
More drives to Botucatu
- Franca to Botucatu
- Uberlândia to Botucatu
- Rio Verde to Botucatu
- Campinas to Botucatu
- Bragança Paulista to Botucatu
- Jundiaí to Botucatu
From Juiz de Fora to other places in Brazil
- Juiz de Fora to Niterói
- Juiz de Fora to Nova Friburgo
- Juiz de Fora to Araruama
- Juiz de Fora to Cabo Frio
- Juiz de Fora to Rio das Ostras
- Juiz de Fora to Macaé
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Juiz de Fora to Botucatu?
About 8 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 428 miles.
How far is Botucatu from Juiz de Fora by car?
About 428 miles (688 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 Botucatu?
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 Botucatu?
In order: MG-353, Ramal de Jacutinga, BR-494, RJ-143, RJ-159, BR-116, SP-060, SP-015, SP-280 and SP-209. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Juiz de Fora and Botucatu?
Closest to the road: Santa Clara Farm, Santa Rita do Jacutinga (historic site, mile 64, 0.3 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 127, 0.4 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, mile 180, 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.