Plan on about 6 h 27 min of driving for the 233-mile (375 km) trip from Lages to Santa Cruz do Sul, before any 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 233 mi (375 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → ERS-122 → ERS-437 → ERS-448 → RSC-453 → BR-470 → RSC-287 |
| States on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Lages–Santa Cruz do Sul drive in a few lines
BR-116 (72 mi) and RSC-453 (68 mi) carry about 60% of the 233 miles. It runs through 2 states: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Lages to Santa Cruz do Sul: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-116 | 4–76 | 72 | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 76–103 | 27 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 103–104 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-437 | 104–111 | 7 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-448 | 111–145 | 34 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 145–153 | 8 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-470 | 153–157 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 157–217 | 60 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-287 | 217–230 | 13 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 230–233 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 40 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Lages and Santa Cruz do Sul
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Histórico de Ipê (mile 101), Antônio Prado historic center (mile 104)
- Museums and history: Museu Histórico de Ipê (mile 101), Museu do Imigrante (mile 151)
Museu Histórico de Ipê
In the town of Ipê, Rio Grande do Sul, the Historical Museum of Ipê holds old relics and regional history, including artifacts from the native peoples who once lived in the area.
Antônio Prado historic center
Antônio Prado's historic center preserves the heritage of a town founded in 1886, mainly by Italian immigrants, that soon grew into a busy commercial hub in Rio Grande do Sul.
Museu do Imigrante
Museu do Imigrante is a public municipal history museum in Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, run by the Fundação Casa das Artes.
When you get to Santa Cruz do Sul
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul
Facing Getúlio Vargas Square in central Santa Cruz do Sul, St. John the Baptist Cathedral is the city's Roman Catholic cathedral.
More drives to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Ponta Grossa to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Curitiba to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Paranaguá to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Joinville to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Itajaí to Santa Cruz do Sul
From Lages to other places in Brazil
- Lages to Tubarão
- Lages to Paranaguá
- Lages to Ourinhos
- Lages to Itanhaém
- Lages to Itapetininga
- Lages to Cubatão
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Lages to Santa Cruz do Sul?
About 6 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 233 miles.
What is the driving distance from Lages to Santa Cruz do Sul?
About 233 miles (375 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 Lages to Santa Cruz do Sul?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Lages to Santa Cruz do Sul?
In order: BR-116, ERS-122, ERS-437, ERS-448, RSC-453, BR-470 and RSC-287. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Lages to Santa Cruz do Sul?
Closest to the road: Museu Histórico de Ipê (museum, mile 101, 0.6 mi from the route); Antônio Prado historic center (old town, mile 104, 0.1 mi from the route); Museu do Imigrante (museum, mile 151, 3 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.