The Wayro route from Montes Claros to Lavras is 395 miles (635 km), about 8 h 57 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance by road | 395 mi (635 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | CMG-135 → MGC-135 → BR-135 → BR-262 → BR-381 → BR-265 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving Montes Claros to Lavras: the shape of the trip
BR-135 (222 mi) and BR-381 (117 mi) carry about 86% of the 395 miles. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Montes Claros to Lavras, road by road
| 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 | 30–252 | 222 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 252–263 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 263–268 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 268–385 | 117 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 385–393 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 393–395 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
What to see on the way from Montes Claros to Lavras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa de Cacos (mile 257)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Cabral State Park (mile 88)
- Museums and history: Basilica of St. Gerard Majella (mile 157), Pampulha Art Museum (mile 252), Casa de Cacos (mile 257), Nair Mendes Moreira House of Culture (mile 258)
- With kids: Zoological Garden of Belo Horizonte (mile 252)
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.
Casa de Cacos
Casa de Cacos in Contagem is a museum and an example of fantastic architecture, built and decorated entirely by geologist Carlos Luís de Almeida and considered the only one of its kind in Brazil.
Nair Mendes Moreira House of Culture
Known locally as Casa do Registro, the Casa da Cultura Nair Mendes Moreira is an 18th-century house in Contagem. Local tradition links it to a Portuguese Crown post that counted goods and checked tax payments.
In Lavras itself
Museu Bi Moreira
On the historic campus of the Federal University of Lavras, Museu Bi Moreira holds around five thousand historical, ethnographic, archaeological and science-and-technology artifacts tied to the history of Lavras and the university.
More drives to Lavras
- Barbacena to Lavras
- Juiz de Fora to Lavras
- Barra Mansa to Lavras
- Teresópolis to Lavras
- Itu to Lavras
- Rio de Janeiro to Lavras
From Montes Claros to other places in Brazil
- Montes Claros to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Montes Claros to Itabira
- Montes Claros to Jequié
- Montes Claros to Varginha
- Montes Claros to Passos
- Montes Claros to Colatina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Montes Claros to Lavras?
About 8 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 395 miles.
How far is Lavras from Montes Claros by car?
About 395 miles (635 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 Montes Claros to Lavras drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Montes Claros to Lavras?
In order: CMG-135, MGC-135, BR-135, BR-262, BR-381 and BR-265. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Montes Claros and Lavras?
Closest to the road: Basilica of St. Gerard Majella (basilica, mile 157, 1 mi from the route); Casa de Cacos (museum, mile 257, 0.4 mi from the route); Nair Mendes Moreira House of Culture (museum, mile 258, 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.