Macaé to Lavras is about 361 road miles (581 km): roughly 8 h 54 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Total distance | 361 mi (581 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-168 → BR-101 → BR-493 → BR-116 → BR-040 → BR-265 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Macaé–Lavras drive in a few lines
BR-040 (144 mi) and BR-265 (91 mi) carry about 65% of the 361 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Macaé to Lavras, road by road
| 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 | 242–268 | 26 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 268–359 | 91 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 359–361 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 186 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Macaé to Lavras
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 78), Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 116), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 150)
- Museums and history: Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 137), Imperial Museum of Brazil (mile 141), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (mile 305)
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.
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
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.
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.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei
Also called the São João del Rei Cathedral, this Catholic shrine is a protected heritage site known for colonial-era art, with gold decoration, paintings and statues inside.
In Lavras itself
Museu Bi Moreira
On the historic campus of the Federal University of Lavras, Museu Bi Moreira holds around five thousand historical, ethnographic, archaeological and science-and-technology artifacts tied to the history of Lavras and the university.
More drives to Lavras
- Barbacena to Lavras
- Juiz de Fora to Lavras
- Barra Mansa to Lavras
- Teresópolis to Lavras
- Itu to Lavras
- Rio de Janeiro to Lavras
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 Lavras?
About 8 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 361 miles.
How far is Lavras from Macaé by car?
About 361 miles (581 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 Lavras?
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 Lavras?
In order: RJ-168, BR-101, BR-493, BR-116, BR-040 and BR-265. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Macaé and Lavras?
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); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (cathedral, mile 305, 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.