Plan on about 7 h 20 min of driving for the 342-mile (551 km) trip from Mogi das Cruzes to Cabo Frio, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance | 342 mi (551 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-070 → SP-060 → BR-116 → BR-101 → RJ-124 → RJ-140 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Mogi das Cruzes to Cabo Frio drive plays out
SP-060 (103 mi) and BR-116 (76 mi) carry about 52% of the 342 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Mogi das Cruzes to Cabo Frio
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 9–58 | 49 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 58–62 | 4 | São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 62–165 | 103 | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 165–241 | 76 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 241–295 | 54 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-124 | 295–331 | 36 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 331–333 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-140 | 333–341 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 341–342 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 134 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Places worth a stop between Mogi das Cruzes and Cabo Frio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 90), Itatiaia National Park (mile 144)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 144), Araruama Lagoon (mile 324)
- Museums and history: Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 29), Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani" (mile 62), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 90), Rio de Janeiro Cathedral (mile 254), Museu Antônio Parreiras (mile 257)
- With kids: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (mile 250)
Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley
Housed in an 1857 mansion in Jacareí, the Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (Museu de Antropologia do Vale do Paraíba) shows sacred and folk art, paintings, and archaeological finds such as ceramic vessels and stone tools.
Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani"
In Quiririm, a district of Taubaté, the Italian Immigration Museum fills the brick Casa Indiani, built between 1897 and 1903 by a family from Cremona, with photos, furniture, machinery and a period classroom recalling immigrant life.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
In 1717, fishermen on the Paraíba do Sul River pulled up an image of Our Lady Aparecida. Today it rests in Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida, a basilica consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1980.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
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.
Rio de Janeiro Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian is the Catholic cathedral of Rio de Janeiro and the seat of the city's archdiocese.
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.
Araruama Lagoon
In Rio de Janeiro state's Região dos Lagos, Araruama Lagoon is a permanent hypersaline lagoon covering 220 km², about 40 km long and 13 km wide.
Once you reach Cabo Frio
Praia Brava (Cabo Frio)
Praia Brava in Cabo Frio is a nudist beach about 400 meters long, framed by cliffs some 20 meters high and facing the wild Ilha dos Papagaios.
Praia das Palmeiras
Praia das Palmeiras sits in the Cabo Frio neighborhood of the same name, about 3 km from the center, between Araruama Lagoon and the Itajuru Canal, a spot known for catching shrimp and crab.
Forte de São Mateus do Cabo Frio
Forte de São Mateus do Cabo Frio is a fort in Cabo Frio, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
More drives to Cabo Frio
- Niterói to Cabo Frio
- Petrópolis to Cabo Frio
- Taubaté to Cabo Frio
- São José dos Campos to Cabo Frio
- Jacareí to Cabo Frio
- São Paulo to Cabo Frio
From Mogi das Cruzes to other places in Brazil
- Mogi das Cruzes to Cubatão
- Mogi das Cruzes to Santos
- Mogi das Cruzes to São Vicente
- Mogi das Cruzes to Jundiaí
- Mogi das Cruzes to Bragança Paulista
- Mogi das Cruzes to Itanhaém
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Mogi das Cruzes to Cabo Frio?
About 7 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
How far is Cabo Frio from Mogi das Cruzes by car?
About 342 miles (551 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 Mogi das Cruzes to Cabo Frio?
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 Mogi das Cruzes to Cabo Frio use?
In order: SP-070, SP-060, BR-116, BR-101, RJ-124 and RJ-140. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mogi das Cruzes and Cabo Frio?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, mile 90, 0.4 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 144, 0.2 mi from the route); Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (zoo, mile 250, 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.