Macaé to Sete Lagoas is about 411 road miles (662 km): roughly 9 h 59 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Total distance | 411 mi (662 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-168 → BR-101 → BR-493 → BR-116 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Macaé to Sete Lagoas drive plays out
BR-040 (284 mi) and BR-101 (77 mi) carry about 88% of the 411 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Macaé to Sete Lagoas, 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 | 242–408 | 166 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 408–411 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 185 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Macaé and Sete Lagoas
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 78), Petrópolis Municipal Nature Park (mile 141), Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 371)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 119), Imperial Museum of Brazil (mile 141), Museu da Loucura (mile 267), Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 371), Pampulha Art Museum (mile 377)
- With kids: Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 371)
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.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
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.
Petrópolis Municipal Nature Park
Petrópolis Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, this hilltop sanctuary in Congonhas is famous for Aleijadinho's 12 soapstone prophets on the front terraces and six chapels holding 64 life-size cedar figures of the Passion.
Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais
On the PUC Minas campus in Belo Horizonte, this natural sciences museum shows Brazilian fauna, largely from the cerrado, alongside fossil South American mammals and an 'Age of Reptiles' hall with dinosaurs, pterosaurs and a large crocodile.
Pampulha Modern Ensemble
Laid out around the artificial Lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, the Pampulha Modern Ensemble is an urban project that includes a casino, a ballroom, the Golf Yacht Club and the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Pampulha Art Museum
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer as the Cassino da Pampulha, the Pampulha Art Museum in Belo Horizonte is part of the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.
More drives to Sete Lagoas
- Belo Horizonte to Sete Lagoas
- Petrópolis to Sete Lagoas
- Rio de Janeiro to Sete Lagoas
- Niterói to Sete Lagoas
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Sete Lagoas
- Ribeirão Preto to Sete Lagoas
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 Sete Lagoas?
About 9 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 411 miles.
What is the driving distance from Macaé to Sete Lagoas?
About 411 miles (662 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 Sete Lagoas?
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 Sete Lagoas use?
In order: RJ-168, BR-101, BR-493, BR-116 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Macaé and Sete Lagoas?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos (calvary, mile 322, 1 mi from the route); Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (museum, mile 371, 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.