By road, Niterói and Barra do Piraí are about 78 miles (126 km) apart, or roughly 1 h 52 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance | 78 mi (126 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 1 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → RJ-127 → RJ-145 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
On the road from Niterói to Barra do Piraí
BR-116 (28 mi) and RJ-127 (19 mi) carry about 60% of the 78 miles. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Niterói to Barra do Piraí, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 1–9 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 9–18 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 18–20 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 20–48 | 28 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-127 | 48–67 | 19 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 67–68 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 68–73 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-145 | 73–78 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
Places worth a stop between Niterói and Barra do Piraí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 14), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27)
- Nature and outdoors: Tijuca National Park (mile 9), Reserva Florestal do Grajaú (mile 10), Parque Shanghai (mile 14)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27)
Tijuca National Park
Covering mountains inside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is an urban national park within the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
Reserva Florestal do Grajaú
Part of the Tijuca forest, Reserva Florestal do Grajaú is a 136-acre park in Rio's Grajaú neighborhood that covers a slope of the Serra dos Três Rios up to Tijuca National Park.
Parque Shanghai
Parque Shanghai is an amusement park in the Penha neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, close to the Church of Our Lady of Penha.
Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga
Also known as Nova Iguaçu Cathedral, the Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga stands on Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixoto and is the mother church of the Diocese of Nova Iguaçu.
In Barra do Piraí itself
Santana Cathedral
Dedicated to St. Anne, this cathedral in Barra do Piraí is the seat of the Diocese of Barra do Piraí–Volta Redonda; Emperor Pedro II attended the laying of its cornerstone during a visit to the parish.
Fazenda São João da Prosperidade
Fazenda São João da Prosperidade is a historic rural estate in Barra do Piraí, Rio de Janeiro state, founded in the 19th century by Antônio Gonçalves de Morais.
More drives to Barra do Piraí
- Pindamonhangaba to Barra do Piraí
- Taubaté to Barra do Piraí
- São José dos Campos to Barra do Piraí
- Jacareí to Barra do Piraí
- São Paulo to Barra do Piraí
- Bragança Paulista to Barra do Piraí
From Niterói to other places in Brazil
- Niterói to Petrópolis
- Niterói to Itaguaí
- Niterói to Penedo
- Niterói to Guaratinguetá
- Niterói to Pindamonhangaba
- Niterói to Taubaté
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Niterói to Barra do Piraí?
About 1 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 78 miles.
What is the driving distance from Niterói to Barra do Piraí?
About 78 miles (126 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 Niterói to Barra do Piraí drive?
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 Niterói to Barra do Piraí use?
In order: BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, RJ-127 and RJ-145. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Niterói to Barra do Piraí?
Closest to the road: Reserva Florestal do Grajaú (natural area, mile 10, 3 mi from the route); Parque Shanghai (park, mile 14, 1 mi from the route); Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 27, 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.