Plan on about 14 h 58 min of driving for the 541-mile (870 km) trip from Macaé to Trancoso, 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 | 541 mi (870 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 14 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-106 → BR-101 → RJ-228 → BA-283 → BA-987 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Macaé–Trancoso drive in a few lines
BR-101 (443 mi) and RJ-228 (43 mi) carry about 90% of the 541 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Macaé to Trancoso, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–8 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-106 | 8–16 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 16–91 | 75 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-228 | 91–134 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 134–502 | 368 | Espírito Santo, Bahia |
| connecting roads | 502–503 | 1 | Bahia |
| local roads | 503–507 | 4 | Bahia |
| BA-283 | 507–519 | 12 | Bahia |
| local roads | 519–526 | 7 | Bahia |
| BA-283 | 526–536 | 10 | Bahia |
| connecting roads | 536–537 | 1 | Bahia |
| BA-987 | 537–541 | 4 | Bahia |
- Mile 106 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
- Mile 385 of this route: Espírito Santo → Bahia (state line)
What to see on the way from Macaé to Trancoso
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (mile 211), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 241), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 343), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 343)
- Nature and outdoors: Itabira Natural Monument (mile 138), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 209), Monte Pascoal National Park (mile 518)
- Museums and history: Itabira Natural Monument (mile 138), Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (mile 211), Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 214), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 241), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 343), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 343)
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument protects a small sugarloaf-shaped hill on the shore of the bay south of Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo
In Cariacica, the Espírito Santo Military Police Museum holds more than 600 objects and 900 photographs on the force's history, in a building that closely resembles the state's first barracks, Quartel do Moscoso.
Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras
On Ilha das Caieiras in Vitória, Espírito Santo, this history museum is named for Manoel Passos Lyrio; an expansion begun in 2022 adds a section devoted to local fishermen.
Casa da Cultura de Fundão
Once the Agostini family residence, this two-story house in Fundão is protected as cultural heritage by Espírito Santo state and now works as a museum.
Buddha of Ibiraçu
Beside the BR-101 highway in Ibiraçu, a 35-meter Buddha statue rises at the Morro da Vargem Zen monastery. The giant figure, part of the monastery grounds, was officially inaugurated in August 2021.
St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral in the municipality of São Mateus is a Catholic church regarded as a reference for modern religious art in Brazil.
Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra
Set in a former seminary chapel in São Mateus, Espírito Santo, this museum of sacred art was founded by Bishop Dom Aldo Gerna.
Monte Pascoal National Park
Set in the Brazilian state of Bahia, Monte Pascoal National Park is a national park and protected natural area.
More drives to Trancoso
- Aracruz to Trancoso
- Guarapari to Trancoso
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Trancoso
- Muriaé to Trancoso
- Rio das Ostras to Trancoso
- Itabuna to Trancoso
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 Trancoso?
About 14 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 541 miles.
How far is Trancoso from Macaé by car?
About 541 miles (870 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 Trancoso drive?
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 Trancoso use?
In order: RJ-106, BR-101, RJ-228, BA-283 and BA-987. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Macaé and Trancoso?
Closest to the road: Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (police museum, mile 211, 0.1 mi from the route); Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 241, 0.2 mi from the route); St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (cathedral, mile 343, 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.