The Wayro route from Macaé to Itaguaí is 156 miles (251 km), about 3 h 40 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.”
| Total distance | 156 mi (251 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 3 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-168 → BR-101 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Macaé to Itaguaí is like
BR-101 (126 mi) and BR-040 (16 mi) carry about 91% of the 156 miles. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Macaé to Itaguaí
| 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 | 114–130 | 16 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 130–154 | 24 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 154–156 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
Where to stop on the way to Itaguaí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 114), Museu da Geodiversidade (mile 117)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 78), Pedra Branca State Park (mile 137)
- Museums and history: Museu Judaico do Rio de Janeiro (mile 110), Museus Castro Maya (mile 114), Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 114), Museu da Geodiversidade (mile 117), Museu Aeroespacial (mile 130), Ponte do Guandu (mile 147)
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.
Theatro Municipal
Built in the early 20th century, the Theatro Municipal is an opera house in Rio de Janeiro's Centro district, regarded as one of Brazil's notable theaters.
Museu Judaico do Rio de Janeiro
Founded in 1977 with the donation of a menorah, the Museu Judaico do Rio de Janeiro keeps permanent exhibits on the city's Jewish community and on Jewish religious, cultural and historical traditions.
Museus Castro Maya
The Museus Castro Maya are two federal public museums in Rio de Janeiro: Museu do Açude beside the Tijuca Forest and Museu da Chácara do Céu in Santa Teresa, both showing the art collection of Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maya.
Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins
A public federal institution in Rio's São Cristóvão district, the Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins studies and shares the history of science and technology in Brazil.
Museu da Geodiversidade
Created in December 2008, the Museu da Geodiversidade is dedicated to the history of planet Earth and the life that has developed on it.
Museu Aeroespacial
Museu Aeroespacial is a national aviation museum in Realengo, on Rio de Janeiro's West Side, a place known as the cradle of Brazilian aviation.
Pedra Branca State Park
In the state of Rio de Janeiro, Pedra Branca State Park ranks among the world's largest urban nature parks.
Ponte do Guandu
Also known as Ponte dos Jesuítas, Ponte do Guandu in Santa Cruz, in Rio de Janeiro's West Zone, was a bridge-dam completed in 1752 to control floodwaters and link local farms.
More drives to Itaguaí
- São José dos Campos to Itaguaí
- Jacareí to Itaguaí
- Jundiaí to Itaguaí
- Santos to Itaguaí
- São Vicente to Itaguaí
- Praia Grande to Itaguaí
From Macaé to other places in Brazil
- Macaé to Araruama
- Macaé to Barra Mansa
- 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 Itaguaí?
About 3 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 156 miles.
What is the driving distance from Macaé to Itaguaí?
About 156 miles (251 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 Itaguaí?
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 Itaguaí?
In order: RJ-168, BR-101 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Macaé and Itaguaí?
Closest to the road: Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (museum, mile 114, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu da Geodiversidade (museum, mile 117, 1 mi from the route); Ponte do Guandu (historic bridge, mile 147, 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.