Montes Claros to Itaperuna is about 483 road miles (777 km): roughly 12 h 27 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 | 483 mi (777 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | CMG-135 → MGC-135 → BR-135 → BR-040 → BR-356 → AMG-1730 → MG-262 → BR-120 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Montes Claros to Itaperuna
BR-135 (227 mi) and BR-356 (113 mi) carry about 70% of the 483 miles. It runs through 2 states: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Montes Claros to Itaperuna: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| CMG-135 | 2–6 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| MGC-135 | 6–28 | 22 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 28–30 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-135 | 30–257 | 227 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 257–275 | 18 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 275–315 | 40 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 315–318 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1730 | 318–322 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 322–325 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-262 | 325–363 | 38 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 363–367 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-120 | 367–404 | 37 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 404–445 | 41 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 445–446 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 446–449 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 449–481 | 32 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 481–483 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 462 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
What to see on the way from Montes Claros to Itaperuna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (mile 318), Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos (mile 324), Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana (mile 325)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Cabral State Park (mile 88), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 397)
- Museums and history: Basilica of St. Gerard Majella (mile 157), Pampulha Art Museum (mile 252), Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (mile 318), Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos (mile 324), Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana (mile 325), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 397)
- With kids: Zoological Garden of Belo Horizonte (mile 252), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 397)
Serra do Cabral State Park
Serra do Cabral State Park is a state park in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Basilica of St. Gerard Majella
Known locally as the Basilica of Curvelo, the Basilica of St. Gerard Majella is a Catholic church in Curvelo, in the state of Minas Gerais.
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.
Zoological Garden of Belo Horizonte
Opened in January 1959 in the Pampulha area, the Zoological Garden of Belo Horizonte is one of the city's main visitor attractions.
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
Work on this Rococo Catholic church in Ouro Preto began in 1766 to a design by architect and sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho.
Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos
In the municipality of Mariana in Minas Gerais, the Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos is a Baroque Catholic church.
Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana
Housed in the Casa Capitular, a Rococo building from the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana opened in 1962 under Archbishop Oscar de Oliveira.
João Moojen Zoology Museum
Part of the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas Gerais, the João Moojen Zoology Museum is a public natural history museum tied to the Department of Animal Biology.
More drives to Itaperuna
- Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna
- Niterói to Itaperuna
- Barra Mansa to Itaperuna
- Itaguaí to Itaperuna
- Pindamonhangaba to Itaperuna
- São José dos Campos to Itaperuna
From Montes Claros to other places in Brazil
- Montes Claros to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Montes Claros to Itabira
- Montes Claros to Jequié
- Montes Claros to Lavras
- Montes Claros to Varginha
- Montes Claros to Passos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Montes Claros to Itaperuna?
About 12 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 483 miles.
How far is Itaperuna from Montes Claros by car?
About 483 miles (777 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 Montes Claros to Itaperuna?
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 Montes Claros to Itaperuna use?
In order: CMG-135, MGC-135, BR-135, BR-040, BR-356, AMG-1730, MG-262 and BR-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Montes Claros and Itaperuna?
Closest to the road: Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (church, mile 318, 0.2 mi from the route); Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos (church, mile 324, 0.3 mi from the route); Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana (museum, mile 325, 0.6 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.