The Wayro route from Maceió to Petrolina is 414 miles (666 km), about 9 h 9 min of driving without 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance | 414 mi (666 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-424 → AL-101 → AL-220 → BR-101 → SE-200 → SE-204 → SE-220 → SE-170 → SE-230 → SE-325 → BR-235 |
| States on the route | Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Pernambuco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Driving Maceió to Petrolina: the shape of the trip
BR-235 (222 mi) and BR-101 (75 mi) carry about 72% of the 414 miles. It runs through 4 states: Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Pernambuco. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Maceió to Petrolina
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Alagoas |
| BR-424 | 1–10 | 9 | Alagoas |
| AL-101 | 10–21 | 11 | Alagoas |
| AL-220 | 21–32 | 11 | Alagoas |
| BR-101 | 32–107 | 75 | Alagoas |
| connecting roads | 107–109 | 2 | Sergipe |
| SE-200 | 109–112 | 3 | Sergipe |
| connecting roads | 112–114 | 2 | Sergipe |
| SE-204 | 114–121 | 7 | Sergipe |
| connecting roads | 121–126 | 5 | Sergipe |
| SE-220 | 126–140 | 14 | Sergipe |
| SE-170 | 140–149 | 9 | Sergipe |
| SE-230 | 149–158 | 9 | Sergipe |
| connecting roads | 158–159 | 1 | Sergipe |
| SE-325 | 159–187 | 28 | Sergipe |
| BR-235 | 187–409 | 222 | Sergipe, Bahia |
| local roads | 409–414 | 5 | Bahia, Pernambuco |
- Mile 107 of this route: Alagoas → Sergipe (state line)
- Mile 195 of this route: Sergipe → Bahia (state line)
- Mile 413 of this route: Bahia → Pernambuco (state line)
Places worth a stop between Maceió and Petrolina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Praia do Francês (mile 12), Palacete da Baronesa (mile 35), Canudos State Park (mile 302)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Francês (mile 12), Praia do Gunga (mile 19), Canudos State Park (mile 302)
- Museums and history: Palacete da Baronesa (mile 35), Canudos State Park (mile 302)
Praia do Francês
Praia do Francês is a beach in the municipality of Marechal Deodoro, Alagoas, and a well-known spot among local residents.
Praia do Gunga
About 20 miles south of Maceió in Alagoas, Praia do Gunga is a beach often counted among Brazil's most beautiful.
Palacete da Baronesa
Palacete da Baronesa, at Rua Visconde de Simibú 60, is one of the oldest houses in São Miguel dos Campos, Alagoas, dating from the 19th century.
Canudos State Park
Canudos State Park in Bahia protects the ground of the War of Canudos, where peasants of mixed ancestry were massacred by Republican soldiers in 1896–97.
Arriving in Petrolina
Aqueduto do Horto Florestal
In Juazeiro's São Geraldo neighborhood, the old Horto Florestal aqueduct (Aqueduto do Antigo Horto Florestal) is an aqueduct standing in this town in the interior of Bahia.
Museu do Sertão
The Museu do Sertão is a museum in the city of Petrolina, in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco.
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Petrolina
In the center of Petrolina, Pernambuco, the Sacred Heart Cathedral is the city's Catholic cathedral, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Christ the King.
More drives to Petrolina
From Maceió to other places in Brazil
- Maceió to Arapiraca
- Maceió to Aracaju
- Maceió to Itabaiana
- Maceió to João Pessoa
- Maceió to Praia do Forte
- Maceió to Santo Antônio de Jesus
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Maceió to Petrolina?
About 9 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 414 miles.
How far is Petrolina from Maceió by car?
About 414 miles (666 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 Maceió to Petrolina drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Maceió to Petrolina?
In order: BR-424, AL-101, AL-220, BR-101, SE-200, SE-204, SE-220, SE-170, SE-230, SE-325 and BR-235. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Maceió and Petrolina?
Closest to the road: Praia do Francês (beach, mile 12, 0.6 mi from the route); Palacete da Baronesa (historic palace, mile 35, 0.6 mi from the route); Canudos State Park (archaeological site, mile 302, 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.