Plan on about 5 h 52 min of driving for the 270-mile (435 km) trip from Macaé to Guaratinguetá, 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 270 mi (435 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-168 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Macaé–Guaratinguetá drive in a few lines
BR-116 (145 mi) and BR-101 (102 mi) carry about 91% of the 270 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Macaé to Guaratinguetá: 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 | 125–270 | 145 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
- Mile 230 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Stops between Macaé and Guaratinguetá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Maré (mile 117), Itatiaia National Park (mile 220)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 78), Praia do Buraco (mile 100), Itatiaia National Park (mile 220)
- Museums and history: Janete Costa Museum (mile 106), Forte de São Domingos de Gragoatá (mile 107), Museu do Negro (mile 111), Museu da Maré (mile 117), Museum Dom João VI (mile 117)
- With kids: AquaRio (mile 113)
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.
Janete Costa Museum
The Janete Costa Museum of Popular Art occupies an 1892 mansion in Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, with about 1,400 square meters including its annex.
Forte de São Domingos de Gragoatá
Forte de São Domingos de Gragoatá is a fort in the city of Niterói, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Museu do Negro
Museu do Negro is a museum in Rio de Janeiro dedicated to the history of Black people in Brazil, with a particular focus on religion.
AquaRio
AquaRio, the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro, is a public aquarium in the Gamboa neighborhood of the city's port zone, with about 26,000 square meters of built area.
Museu da Maré
Recording the history of the Maré communities in Rio de Janeiro, Museu da Maré centers on a permanent exhibition and also runs oral history research, storytelling and traveling exhibitions.
Museum Dom João VI
Museu Dom João VI is an art and history museum linked to the School of Fine Arts at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, on Ilha do Fundão.
Itatiaia National Park
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
When you get to Guaratinguetá
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
Guaratinguetá's history museum honors Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906, who lived in the town. São Paulo state created it in 1956 along with museums for other presidents born in the state.
Museu Frei Galvão
The Museu Frei Galvão is a municipal cultural institution in Guaratinguetá, in São Paulo state, maintained jointly by the city government and a local association of the museum's friends.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Archaeological pieces and sacred objects from the region fill the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum, within the Aparecida basilica complex. The museum opened in 1956.
More drives to Guaratinguetá
- Jacareí to Guaratinguetá
- São Paulo to Guaratinguetá
- Jundiaí to Guaratinguetá
- Sorocaba to Guaratinguetá
- Itu to Guaratinguetá
- Limeira to Guaratinguetá
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 is the drive from Macaé to Guaratinguetá?
About 5 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 270 miles.
How far is Guaratinguetá from Macaé by car?
About 270 miles (435 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 Guaratinguetá 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 Macaé to Guaratinguetá use?
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 Guaratinguetá?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Museu da Maré (museum, mile 117, 0.4 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 220, 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.