The Wayro route from Macaé to Conselheiro Lafaiete is 311 miles (501 km), about 7 h 30 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance | 311 mi (501 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-168 → BR-101 → BR-493 → BR-116 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Macaé to Conselheiro Lafaiete: the shape of the trip
BR-040 (185 mi) and BR-101 (77 mi) carry about 84% of the 311 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Macaé and Conselheiro Lafaiete
| 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 | 12–89 | 77 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 89–91 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 91–94 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 94–100 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 100–103 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 103–107 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 107–120 | 13 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 120–121 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 121–239 | 118 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 239–242 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 242–309 | 67 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 309–311 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 186 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Stops between Macaé and Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 78), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 150), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 155)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 119), Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 137), Cathedral of Petrópolis (mile 141), Imperial Museum of Brazil (mile 141), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 155), Museu da Loucura (mile 267)
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.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
Casa Stefan Zweig
Founded in 2006, Casa Stefan Zweig is a writer's house museum in Petrópolis, set in the home where Stefan Zweig lived with his wife.
Cathedral of Petrópolis
Dedicated to the city's patron, Saint Peter of Alcantara, the Cathedral of Petrópolis is the final resting place of Dom Pedro II, Brazil's last emperor, and his family.
Imperial Museum of Brazil
Housed in the Petrópolis Imperial Palace, the former summer residence of Emperor Pedro II, the Imperial Museum sits in the historic center of Petrópolis; work on the palace began in 1845.
Serra dos Órgãos National Park
Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects the Serra dos Órgãos range between Petrópolis and Teresópolis, where a roughly 28 km traverse climbs past the Castelos do Açu to Pedra do Sino at 2,263 meters.
Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument
The Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument is a municipal natural monument, a protected area in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
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.
More drives to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Teresópolis to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Barra Mansa to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Rio de Janeiro to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Niterói to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Nova Friburgo to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Rio das Ostras to Conselheiro Lafaiete
From Macaé to other places in Brazil
- Macaé to Araruama
- Macaé to Itaguaí
- Macaé to Barra Mansa
- Macaé to Angra dos Reis
- Macaé to Resende
- Macaé to Penedo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Macaé to Conselheiro Lafaiete?
About 7 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 311 miles.
How far is Conselheiro Lafaiete from Macaé by car?
About 311 miles (501 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 Macaé to Conselheiro Lafaiete drive?
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 Conselheiro Lafaiete?
In order: RJ-168, BR-101, BR-493, BR-116 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Macaé and Conselheiro Lafaiete?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Casa Stefan Zweig (museum, mile 137, 2 mi from the route); Museu da Loucura (museum, mile 267, 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.