The Wayro route from Juiz de Fora to Itabira is 225 miles (362 km), about 6 h 12 min of driving without stops.
- 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Total distance | 225 mi (362 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → MGC-356 → BR-381 → MG-434 → MG-129 → AMG-1210 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
On the road from Juiz de Fora to Itabira
BR-040 (138 mi) and BR-381 (36 mi) carry about 77% of the 225 miles. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Juiz de Fora and Itabira
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–12 | 12 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 12–28 | 16 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 28–31 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 31–153 | 122 | Minas Gerais |
| MGC-356 | 153–158 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 158–165 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 165–166 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 166–202 | 36 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-434 | 202–214 | 12 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-129 | 214–217 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1210 | 217–224 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 224–225 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
Places worth a stop between Juiz de Fora and Itabira
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Piemonte Tower (mile 155), Francisco Nunes Theater (mile 160)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Rola-Moça State Park (mile 149)
- Museums and history: Museu da Loucura (mile 57), Museu da Imagem e Memória (mile 112)
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, this hilltop sanctuary in Congonhas is famous for Aleijadinho's 12 soapstone prophets on the front terraces and six chapels holding 64 life-size cedar figures of the Passion.
Museu da Imagem e Memória
Housed in the two-story Casarão dos Fonseca, the Museu da Imagem e Memória in Congonhas shows photographs, documents and old objects that tell the history of the town and its people.
Serra do Rola-Moça State Park
On the edge of metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Serra do Rola-Moça State Park protects rugged ridges of the Espinhaço range where cerrado savanna meets Atlantic Forest.
Piemonte Tower
Rising 101 meters on a mountain ridge between the Serra do Curral and Serra do Rola-Moça, Piemonte Tower (Torre Piemonte) is a tourist structure at the Alta Vila shopping center on the Nova Lima–Belo Horizonte line.
Francisco Nunes Theater
Opened in 1950 inside Belo Horizonte's Américo Renné Giannetti Municipal Park, the Francisco Nunes Theater stages plays, concerts and other shows.
Arriving in Itabira
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Itabira
Known locally as Itabira Cathedral, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the municipality of Itabira, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Itabira
- Sete Lagoas to Itabira
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Itabira
- Barbacena to Itabira
- Araxá to Itabira
- Petrópolis to Itabira
- Teresópolis to Itabira
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 Itabira?
About 6 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 225 miles.
What is the driving distance from Juiz de Fora to Itabira?
About 225 miles (362 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 Itabira?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Juiz de Fora to Itabira use?
In order: BR-040, MGC-356, BR-381, MG-434, MG-129 and AMG-1210. 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 Itabira?
Closest to the road: Museu da Imagem e Memória (museum, mile 112, 1 mi from the route); Piemonte Tower (observation tower, mile 155, 0.3 mi from the route); Francisco Nunes Theater (theater, mile 160, 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.