Plan on about 11 h 42 min of driving for the 513-mile (826 km) trip from Macaé to Passos, 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 513 mi (826 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-168 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-048 → BR-459 → MG-179 → BR-491 → MGC-491 → MG-184 → BR-265 → MG-446 → MG-050 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Macaé to Passos
BR-116 (136 mi) and BR-101 (102 mi) carry about 46% of the 513 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Macaé to Passos
| 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 | 125–261 | 136 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-048 | 261–276 | 15 | São Paulo |
| BR-459 | 276–354 | 78 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| MG-179 | 354–419 | 65 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 419–429 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| MGC-491 | 429–436 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-184 | 436–472 | 36 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 472–485 | 13 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-446 | 485–497 | 12 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 497–511 | 14 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 511–513 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 230 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 282 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Macaé to Passos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 220)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Buraco (mile 100), Tijuca National Park (mile 115), Itatiaia National Park (mile 220)
- Museums and history: Niterói Contemporary Art Museum (mile 106), Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (mile 353)
- With kids: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (mile 115)
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.
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum
Completed in 1996, the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum stands in the city of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro state, and counts among the city's main landmarks.
Carioca Aqueduct
Better known as Arcos da Lapa, the Carioca Aqueduct in Rio de Janeiro was built in the mid-18th century to carry fresh water from the Carioca River to the city.
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.
Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden
Located in the São Cristóvão district, the Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden runs environmental and educational activities built around its animal collection of mainly fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre
Good Jesus Cathedral is the Catholic seat of the Archdiocese of Pouso Alegre, in the city of the same name in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Passos
- Uberaba to Passos
- Mogi Guaçu to Passos
- Limeira to Passos
- Campinas to Passos
- Piracicaba to Passos
- Jundiaí to Passos
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 Passos?
About 11 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 513 miles.
How far is Passos from Macaé by car?
About 513 miles (826 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 Passos?
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 Passos use?
In order: RJ-168, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SP-048, BR-459, MG-179, BR-491, MGC-491, MG-184, BR-265, MG-446 and MG-050. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Macaé and Passos?
Closest to the road: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (zoo, mile 115, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 220, 0.4 mi from the route); Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (cathedral, mile 353, 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.