Plan on about 4 h 23 min of driving for the 192-mile (309 km) trip from Macaé to Barra Mansa, 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance | 192 mi (309 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-168 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Macaé–Barra Mansa drive in a few lines
BR-101 (102 mi) and BR-116 (66 mi) carry about 88% of the 192 miles. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Macaé to Barra Mansa: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-168 | 2–11 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 11–12 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 12–114 | 102 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 114–123 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 123–125 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 125–191 | 66 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 191–192 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
Where to stop on the way to Barra Mansa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 120)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 78), Praia do Buraco (mile 100), Tijuca National Park (mile 115), Parque Shanghai (mile 120)
- Museums and history: Palácio do Ingá (mile 106), Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (mile 111), Museu de Arte do Rio (mile 111), Museu Militar Conde de Linhares (mile 114)
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.
Praia do Buraco
About four kilometers from Praia Central in Balneário Camboriú, Praia do Buraco borders Praia do Canto; strong waves make it unsafe for swimming, so it draws mostly fishermen and photographers.
Palácio do Ingá
In Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, the Palácio do Ingá (Palácio Nilo Peçanha) houses the Museu de História e Arte do Rio de Janeiro.
Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro's Presbyterian Cathedral is the historic congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil and was the first Presbyterian church in the country.
Museu de Arte do Rio
Opened on March 1, 2013, Museu de Arte do Rio is an art museum maintained through a partnership of municipal institutions and private initiatives.
Museu Militar Conde de Linhares
In Rio de Janeiro's São Cristóvão neighborhood, the Museu Militar Conde de Linhares covers military history and is named for the nobleman who accompanied the Portuguese court's move to Brazil.
Tijuca National Park
Covering mountains inside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is an urban national park within the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
Parque Shanghai
Parque Shanghai is an amusement park in the Penha neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, close to the Church of Our Lady of Penha.
More drives to Barra Mansa
- Niterói to Barra Mansa
- Jacareí to Barra Mansa
- São Paulo to Barra Mansa
- Bragança Paulista to Barra Mansa
- Jundiaí to Barra Mansa
- Campinas to Barra Mansa
From Macaé to other places in Brazil
- Macaé to Araruama
- Macaé to Itaguaí
- Macaé to Angra dos Reis
- Macaé to Resende
- Macaé to Penedo
- Macaé to Fumaça
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Macaé to Barra Mansa?
About 4 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 192 miles.
What is the driving distance from Macaé to Barra Mansa?
About 192 miles (309 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 Macaé to Barra Mansa?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Macaé to Barra Mansa?
In order: RJ-168, BR-101, BR-040 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Macaé and Barra Mansa?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Museu Militar Conde de Linhares (museum, mile 114, 1 mi from the route); Parque Shanghai (park, mile 120, 1 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.