Juiz de Fora to Itu is about 342 road miles (551 km): roughly 7 h 32 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 342 mi (551 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 32 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-075 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Juiz de Fora to Itu
BR-116 (137 mi) and MG-353 (51 mi) carry about 55% of the 342 miles. It runs through 3 states: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Juiz de Fora to Itu: the road sequence
| 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 | 295–331 | 36 | São Paulo |
| SP-075 | 331–340 | 9 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 340–342 | 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)
Stops between Juiz de Fora and Itu
- 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), Museum of the Military Police of the state of São Paulo (mile 283), Municipal Museum of Barueri (mile 300)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 127), Cantareira State Park (mile 275)
- Museums and history: Santa Clara Farm, Santa Rita do Jacutinga (mile 64), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 180), Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro (mile 228), Museum of the Military Police of the state of São Paulo (mile 283), Centro de Memória do Circo (mile 283), Centro Cultural e de Estudos Superiores Aúthos Pagano (mile 289), Municipal Museum of Barueri (mile 300)
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
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
In 1717, fishermen on the Paraíba do Sul River pulled up an image of Our Lady Aparecida. Today it rests in Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida, a basilica consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1980.
Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro
Inside the DCTA aerospace complex in São José dos Campos, this memorial traces Brazil's aerospace history with aircraft such as the Bandeirante and Tucano, the VLS-1 rocket, engines, simulators and satellite parts.
Cantareira State Park
In the Serra da Cantareira range, Cantareira State Park protects a stretch of Atlantic Forest north of the city of São Paulo.
Museum of the Military Police of the state of São Paulo
Founded in 1958, this São Paulo museum preserves and exhibits the history and material heritage of the state's Military Police and the forces that came before it.
Centro de Memória do Circo
Also called the Clown Museum, the Centro de Memória do Circo inside the Galeria Olido cultural center keeps records of Brazil's circus traditions, including collections from the touring Circo Garcia and Circo Nerino.
Centro Cultural e de Estudos Superiores Aúthos Pagano
In São Paulo's Alto da Lapa neighborhood, this cultural center is a state public institution maintained by the São Paulo State Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy together with a civil society organization.
Municipal Museum of Barueri
In the Jardim Belval neighborhood of Barueri, the Oswaldo Abat Municipal Museum occupies a heritage building and holds Indigenous objects excavated at the Aldeia de Barueri, photographs and sculptures on local history.
When you get to Itu
FAMA Museu
Formerly the Museu São Pedro, FAMA Museu is a private museum open to the public in central Itu that holds the art collection of artist and collector Marcos Amaro.
Museu do Tietê
Inside Tietê Ecological Park in São Paulo's East Zone, this museum in a Ruy Ohtake-designed building tells the story of the Tietê River through documents, photos and Indigenous objects.
Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus
Also known as the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, this church in Itu stands where the small chapel that marked the town's founding was built in 1610 by Domingos Fernandes and his son-in-law Cristóvão Dinis.
More drives to Itu
- Araraquara to Itu
- Ribeirão Preto to Itu
- Bragança Paulista to Itu
- São Paulo to Itu
- São Vicente to Itu
- Santos to Itu
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 Itu?
About 7 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
How far is Itu from Juiz de Fora by car?
About 342 miles (551 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 Juiz de Fora to Itu drive?
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 Itu?
In order: MG-353, Ramal de Jacutinga, BR-494, RJ-143, RJ-159, BR-116, SP-060, SP-015, SP-280 and SP-075. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Juiz de Fora and Itu?
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.