Plan on about 10 h 9 min of driving for the 516-mile (831 km) trip from Niterói to Barretos, 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance by road | 516 mi (831 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-065 → SP-330 → SP-310 → SP-326 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Niterói to Barretos is like
BR-116 (209 mi) and SP-065 (87 mi) carry about 57% of the 516 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Niterói to Barretos
| 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 | 20–229 | 209 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-065 | 229–316 | 87 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 316–317 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-330 | 317–347 | 30 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 347–348 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-310 | 348–435 | 87 | São Paulo |
| SP-326 | 435–514 | 79 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 514–516 | 2 | São Paulo |
- Mile 124 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Niterói and Barretos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 114), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 164)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 114), Parque Estadual de Itaberaba (mile 257)
- Museums and history: Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 164), Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro (mile 216), Museum of Science Professor Mario Tolentino (mile 398), Casa da Cultura Luís Antonio Martinez Corrêa (mile 422), André Matarazzo Museum of Arms, Vehicles and Machines Eduardo (mile 487)
- With kids: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (mile 9), Museum of Science Professor Mario Tolentino (mile 398)
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.
Itatiaia National Park
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, who lived in Guaratinguetá and served as Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906, is honored at the town's history museum.
Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro
Aircraft such as the Bandeirante and Tucano share space with the VLS-1 rocket, engines, simulators and satellite parts at this memorial to Brazil's aerospace history in São José dos Campos.
Parque Estadual de Itaberaba
Created in 2010, Itaberaba State Park (Parque Estadual Itaberaba) protects land in São Paulo state spread across Arujá, Guarulhos, Mairiporã, Nazaré Paulista and Santa Isabel.
Centro de Convivência
The Centro de Convivência Cultural "Carlos Gomes" is an architectural complex in the Cambuí neighborhood of Campinas. Designed by architect Fábio Penteado, it opened on September 9, 1976.
Museum of Science Professor Mario Tolentino
Opened by the city of São Carlos in 2012, this science museum offers interactive exhibits and experiments in science, technology and art, named for professor and historian Mario Tolentino.
Casa da Cultura Luís Antonio Martinez Corrêa
Araraquara's Casa da Cultura occupies a 1914 mansion protected by São Paulo's heritage council, CONDEPHAAT. It holds historical collections ranging from documents to artworks, plus a small theater and rooms for cultural workshops.
André Matarazzo Museum of Arms, Vehicles and Machines Eduardo
Known locally as the Museu do Automóvel, Bebedouro's private museum grew from Eduardo André Matarazzo's collection of vintage vehicles and also shows retired airliners outdoors, including a DC-3 and a Vickers Viscount.
In Barretos itself
Museu Ruy Menezes
In Barretos, São Paulo, the Ruy Menezes Historical, Artistic and Folkloric Museum safeguards the city's memory through documents and objects from local history.
More drives to Barretos
- Araraquara to Barretos
- São Carlos to Barretos
- Limeira to Barretos
- Piracicaba to Barretos
- Poços de Caldas to Barretos
- Campinas to Barretos
From Niterói to other places in Brazil
- Niterói to Petrópolis
- Niterói to Itaguaí
- Niterói to Barra do Piraí
- Niterói to Penedo
- Niterói to Guaratinguetá
- Niterói to Pindamonhangaba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Niterói to Barretos?
About 10 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
How far is Barretos from Niterói by car?
About 516 miles (831 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 Barretos drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Niterói to Barretos?
In order: BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SP-065, SP-330, SP-310 and SP-326. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Niterói and Barretos?
Closest to the road: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (zoo, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 114, 0.2 mi from the route); Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (museum, mile 164, 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.