Plan on about 9 h 25 min of driving for the 417-mile (671 km) trip from Macaé to Poços de Caldas, 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Total distance | 417 mi (671 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-168 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-048 → BR-459 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Macaé to Poços de Caldas is like
BR-116 (136 mi) and BR-459 (136 mi) carry about 65% of the 417 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Macaé to Poços de Caldas: 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 | 125–261 | 136 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-048 | 261–276 | 15 | São Paulo |
| BR-459 | 276–412 | 136 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 412–417 | 5 | 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)
Stops between Macaé and Poços de Caldas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 220)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 78), Tijuca National Park (mile 115), Itatiaia National Park (mile 220)
- Museums and history: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 106), Museu Antônio Parreiras (mile 106), Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (mile 111), Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (mile 353)
- 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.
Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói
Built in a late colonial style, the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Niterói Cathedral) is the Catholic cathedral of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro state.
Museu Antônio Parreiras
In Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, on Rua Tiradentes, the Museu Antônio Parreiras is devoted to preserving the memory and work of Brazilian painter Antônio Parreiras.
Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro's Presbyterian Cathedral is the historic congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil and was the first Presbyterian church in the country.
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
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
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.
In Poços de Caldas itself
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
Built in 1937 on the site of the original parish church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health (Basílica de Nossa Senhora da Saúde) is a Catholic church in Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Poços de Caldas
- Limeira to Poços de Caldas
- Campinas to Poços de Caldas
- São Carlos to Poços de Caldas
- Jundiaí to Poços de Caldas
- Araraquara to Poços de Caldas
- Bragança Paulista to Poços de Caldas
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 Poços de Caldas?
About 9 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 417 miles.
What is the driving distance from Macaé to Poços de Caldas?
About 417 miles (671 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 Poços de Caldas 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 Poços de Caldas?
In order: RJ-168, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SP-048 and BR-459. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Macaé to Poços de Caldas?
Closest to the road: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (cathedral, mile 106, 1 mi from the route); 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). 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.