Juiz de Fora to São Mateus is about 413 road miles (664 km): roughly 11 h 37 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Total distance | 413 mi (664 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-267 → BR-116 → MG-285 → RJ-200 → RJ-186 → ES-297 → BR-101 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Juiz de Fora–São Mateus drive in a few lines
BR-101 (235 mi) and BR-267 (51 mi) carry about 69% of the 413 miles. It runs through 3 states: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Juiz de Fora and São Mateus
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-267 | 5–56 | 51 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 56–61 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-116 | 61–78 | 17 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-285 | 78–94 | 16 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-200 | 94–112 | 18 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-186 | 112–149 | 37 | Rio de Janeiro |
| ES-297 | 149–177 | 28 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 177–412 | 235 | Espírito Santo |
| local roads | 412–413 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
- Mile 93 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
- Mile 158 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 174 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Juiz de Fora and São Mateus
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (mile 60), Museu Espaço dos Anjos (mile 60), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 311)
- Nature and outdoors: Itabira Natural Monument (mile 208), Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 259), Fonte Grande State Park (mile 281)
- Museums and history: St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (mile 60), Museu Espaço dos Anjos (mile 60), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 208), Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 285), Serra Historical Museum (mile 295), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 311)
St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina
Seat of the Diocese of Leopoldina, St. Sebastian Cathedral is a Catholic parish church in Leopoldina, Minas Gerais.
Museu Espaço dos Anjos
Leopoldina's Museu Espaço dos Anjos occupies the house where poet Augusto dos Anjos lived, with a covered outdoor space that hosts music, theater and literary gatherings throughout the year.
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
Paulo César Vinha State Park
Along the Atlantic shore in Guarapari, Paulo César Vinha State Park protects dunes, lagoons and marshes. Its trails lead to the beach and to Lagoa de Caraís.
Fonte Grande State Park
Fonte Grande State Park is a state-protected park in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.
Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras
On Ilha das Caieiras in Vitória, Espírito Santo, this history museum is named for Manoel Passos Lyrio; an expansion begun in 2022 adds a section devoted to local fishermen.
Serra Historical Museum
Founded in 2007, the Serra Historical Museum (Museu Histórico da Serra) in the municipality of Serra, Espírito Santo, keeps a collection of documents, period objects and other historical items.
Casa da Cultura de Fundão
Once the Agostini family residence, this two-story house in Fundão is protected as cultural heritage by Espírito Santo state and now works as a museum.
Buddha of Ibiraçu
Beside the BR-101 highway in Ibiraçu, a 35-meter Buddha statue rises at the Morro da Vargem Zen monastery. The giant figure, part of the monastery grounds, was officially inaugurated in August 2021.
When you get to São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral in the municipality of São Mateus is a Catholic church regarded as a reference for modern religious art in Brazil.
Igreja Velha
Listed as historic heritage of São Mateus in Espírito Santo, Igreja Velha was planned as the town's biggest church, but construction was never finished for lack of municipal funds.
Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra
Set in a former seminary chapel in São Mateus, Espírito Santo, this museum of sacred art was founded by Bishop Dom Aldo Gerna.
More drives to São Mateus
- Rio das Ostras to São Mateus
- Nova Friburgo to São Mateus
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to São Mateus
- Teresópolis to São Mateus
- Sete Lagoas to São Mateus
- Petrópolis to São Mateus
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 São Mateus?
About 11 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 413 miles.
How far is São Mateus from Juiz de Fora by car?
About 413 miles (664 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 São Mateus drive?
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 São Mateus use?
In order: BR-267, BR-116, MG-285, RJ-200, RJ-186, ES-297 and BR-101. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Juiz de Fora and São Mateus?
Closest to the road: St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (cathedral, mile 60, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Espaço dos Anjos (museum, mile 60, 0.5 mi from the route); Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 311, 0.2 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.