Macaé to Penedo is about 219 road miles (352 km): roughly 4 h 58 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 219 mi (352 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-168 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Macaé to Penedo: the shape of the trip
BR-101 (102 mi) and BR-116 (90 mi) carry about 88% of the 219 miles. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Macaé to Penedo
| 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 | 125–215 | 90 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 215–219 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
Where to stop on the way to Penedo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 133)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 78), Praia do Buraco (mile 100), Reserva Florestal do Grajaú (mile 115)
- Museums and history: Centro Cultural do Movimento Escoteiro (mile 111), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 133)
- With kids: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (mile 115)
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.
Pedra de Itapuca
Between Icaraí and Flechas beaches in Niterói, Pedra de Itapuca is a rock formation considered one of the symbols of the city.
Teatro João Caetano
Teatro João Caetano stands on Tiradentes Square in Rio de Janeiro and seats 1,139 people across its main floor, noble balcony and upper balcony.
Centro Cultural do Movimento Escoteiro
Founded in 1985 in Rio de Janeiro, the Centro Cultural do Movimento Escoteiro (CCME) preserves and shares the memory and culture of scouting in Brazil and holds the country's largest scouting collection.
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.
Reserva Florestal do Grajaú
Part of the Tijuca forest, Reserva Florestal do Grajaú is a 136-acre park in Rio's Grajaú neighborhood that covers a slope of the Serra dos Três Rios up to Tijuca National Park.
Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga
Also known as Nova Iguaçu Cathedral, the Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga stands on Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixoto and is the mother church of the Diocese of Nova Iguaçu.
Arriving in Penedo
Rio Pombo Nature Park
Formerly the Serrinha do Alambari Municipal Park, Rio Pombo Nature Park is a municipal nature park in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
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.
More drives to Penedo
- Pindamonhangaba to Penedo
- Taubaté to Penedo
- São José dos Campos to Penedo
- Jacareí to Penedo
- Mogi das Cruzes to Penedo
- Caraguatatuba to Penedo
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 Fumaça
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Macaé to Penedo?
About 4 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 219 miles.
What is the driving distance from Macaé to Penedo?
About 219 miles (352 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 Penedo 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 Penedo?
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 Penedo?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (zoo, mile 115, 1 mi from the route); Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 133, 0.9 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.