By road, Muriaé and Caraíva are about 510 miles (820 km) apart, or roughly 13 h 57 min of driving.
- 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 | 510 mi (820 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-356 → RJ-186 → ES-297 → BR-101 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Muriaé–Caraíva drive in a few lines
BR-101 (394 mi) and BR-356 (44 mi) carry about 86% of the 510 miles. It runs through 4 states: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Muriaé and Caraíva
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 1–45 | 44 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-186 | 45–57 | 12 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 57–58 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| ES-297 | 58–86 | 28 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 86–480 | 394 | Espírito Santo, Bahia |
| connecting roads | 480–482 | 2 | Bahia |
| local roads | 482–510 | 28 | Bahia |
- Mile 15 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 82 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
- Mile 364 of this route: Espírito Santo → Bahia (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Caraíva
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (mile 189), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 321), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 321)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 99), Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 168), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 188), Monte Pascoal National Park (mile 501)
- Museums and history: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 99), Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (mile 189), Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 193), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 321), Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (mile 321)
Serra das Torres Natural Monument
Covering about 10,459 hectares of Atlantic Forest in Atílio Vivácqua, Mimoso do Sul and Muqui, the Serra das Torres Natural Monument was created in 2010 to protect the peaks of a mountain range in southern Espírito Santo.
Paulo César Vinha State Park
Along the Atlantic shore in Guarapari, Paulo César Vinha State Park protects dunes, lagoons and marshes. Its trails lead to the beach and to Lagoa de Caraís.
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument protects a small sugarloaf-shaped hill on the shore of the bay south of Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo
In Cariacica, the Espírito Santo Military Police Museum holds more than 600 objects and 900 photographs on the force's history, in a building that closely resembles the state's first barracks, Quartel do Moscoso.
Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras
On Ilha das Caieiras in Vitória, Espírito Santo, this history museum is named for Manoel Passos Lyrio; an expansion begun in 2022 adds a section devoted to local fishermen.
Buddha of Ibiraçu
Beside the BR-101 highway in Ibiraçu, a 35-meter Buddha statue rises at the Morro da Vargem Zen monastery. The giant figure, part of the monastery grounds, was officially inaugurated in August 2021.
St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral in the municipality of São Mateus is a Catholic church regarded as a reference for modern religious art in Brazil.
Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra
Set in a former seminary chapel in São Mateus, Espírito Santo, this museum of sacred art was founded by Bishop Dom Aldo Gerna.
Monte Pascoal National Park
Set in the Brazilian state of Bahia, Monte Pascoal National Park is a national park and protected natural area.
More drives to Caraíva
- Linhares to Caraíva
- Aracruz to Caraíva
- Serra to Caraíva
- Cariacica to Caraíva
- Itabira to Caraíva
- Itaperuna to Caraíva
From Muriaé to other places in Brazil
- Muriaé to Barra do Piraí
- Muriaé to Fumaça
- Muriaé to Trindade
- Muriaé to Santa Leopoldina
- Muriaé to Itaúnas
- Muriaé to Trancoso
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Muriaé to Caraíva?
About 13 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 510 miles.
What is the driving distance from Muriaé to Caraíva?
About 510 miles (820 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 Muriaé to Caraíva?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Muriaé to Caraíva?
In order: BR-356, RJ-186, ES-297 and BR-101. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Muriaé and Caraíva?
Closest to the road: Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (police museum, mile 189, 0.1 mi from the route); St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (cathedral, mile 321, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra (museum, mile 321, 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.