Maringá to São José is about 448 road miles (721 km): roughly 9 h 24 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.”
| Distance by road | 448 mi (721 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-376 → BR-277 → BR-101 |
| States on the route | Paraná, Santa Catarina |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Maringá to São José
BR-376 (297 mi) and BR-101 (129 mi) carry about 95% of the 448 miles. It runs through 2 states: Paraná, Santa Catarina. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Maringá to São José, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Paraná |
| BR-376 | 4–258 | 254 | Paraná |
| BR-277 | 258–275 | 17 | Paraná |
| BR-376 | 275–318 | 43 | Paraná, Santa Catarina |
| BR-101 | 318–447 | 129 | Santa Catarina |
| local roads | 447–448 | 1 | Santa Catarina |
- Mile 317 of this route: Paraná → Santa Catarina (state line)
Places worth a stop between Maringá and São José
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Vila Velha State Park (mile 208), Antigo Engenho de Mate da Rondinha (mile 251), Praia da Ilhota (mile 407), Museu Etnográfico Casa dos Açores (mile 434), São Miguel Aqueduct (mile 434)
- Nature and outdoors: Vila Velha State Park (mile 208), Praia do Pinho (mile 404), Praia da Ilhota (mile 407)
- Museums and history: Casa da Memória Paraná (mile 193), Antigo Engenho de Mate da Rondinha (mile 251), Joinville Art Museum (mile 342), Museu Etno-Arqueológico de Itajaí (mile 393), Museu Etnográfico Casa dos Açores (mile 434)
Casa da Memória Paraná
In Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Casa da Memória Paraná is a museum and memorial that documents the history of the city, the Campos Gerais region and the state.
Vila Velha State Park
Also called the Old Village State Park, Vila Velha State Park covers 9,397 acres in the municipality of Ponta Grossa, Paraná.
Antigo Engenho de Mate da Rondinha
In Campo Largo, Paraná, the Parque Histórico do Mate is a themed park that tells the story of the yerba mate cycle and ranks among the town's visitor attractions.
Joinville Art Museum
Opened on September 3, 1976, the Museu de Arte de Joinville documents, studies and conserves artworks, mainly by local artists. It is run by the Joinville Cultural Foundation and sits on Rua XV de Novembro.
Museu Etno-Arqueológico de Itajaí
Opened in 2010, the Museu Etno-Arqueológico de Itajaí covers prehistoric shell-mound (sambaqui) archaeology and the rural life of the lower Itajaí-Mirim valley on Santa Catarina's northern coast.
Praia do Pinho
Officially founded in 1984, Praia do Pinho in Balneário Camboriú is Brazil's first official naturist beach. The roughly 500-meter cove lies off the Interpraias road between Laranjeiras and Estaleirinho, with marked nude and clothing-optional areas.
Praia da Ilhota
On Itapema's coast in Santa Catarina, Praia da Ilhota pairs clear water and a wide strip of coarse golden sand with a string of seafood spots, and its slightly choppy sea draws local surfers.
Museu Etnográfico Casa dos Açores
Also called the Museu de São Miguel, the Museu Etnográfico Casa dos Açores in São Miguel da Terra Firme, Biguaçu, preserves the memory of Portuguese-Brazilian heritage in the greater Florianópolis area.
São Miguel Aqueduct
Built in the 19th century to carry water from the São Miguel waterfall dam to the beach, this aqueduct is part of the Vila de São Miguel ensemble in Biguaçu, listed as national heritage in 1969.
Once you reach São José
Forte de Santa Bárbara da Vila
Set on a small island in Florianópolis facing the old Praia do Canto, Forte de Santa Bárbara da Vila was raised to defend the old Vila de Nossa Senhora do Desterro.
Our Lady of Exile and St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, Florianópolis
Florianópolis Cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of Exile and St. Catherine of Alexandria, has served as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Florianópolis since its creation in 1908.
Forte de Santana do Estreito
Overlooking the strait between Santa Catarina Island and the mainland in Florianópolis, Forte de Santana do Estreito was built to defend the old anchorage of the Vila de Nossa Senhora do Desterro.
More drives to São José
- Blumenau to São José
- Curitiba to São José
- Ponta Grossa to São José
- Porto Alegre to São José
- Caxias do Sul to São José
- Sorocaba to São José
From Maringá to other places in Brazil
- Maringá to Barretos
- Maringá to Uberaba
- Maringá to Bragança Paulista
- Maringá to Paranapiacaba
- Maringá to Cubatão
- Maringá to São Vicente
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Maringá to São José?
About 9 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 448 miles.
What is the driving distance from Maringá to São José?
About 448 miles (721 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 Maringá to São José?
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 Maringá to São José use?
In order: BR-376, BR-277 and BR-101. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Maringá to São José?
Closest to the road: Antigo Engenho de Mate da Rondinha (museum, mile 251, 0.1 mi from the route); Museu Etnográfico Casa dos Açores (anthropology museum, mile 434, 0.1 mi from the route); São Miguel Aqueduct (aqueduct, mile 434, 0.1 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.