Niterói to Cabo Frio is about 86 road miles (138 km): roughly 2 h 8 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 86 mi (138 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 2 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → RJ-124 → RJ-140 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Niterói to Cabo Frio is like
BR-101 (38 mi) and RJ-124 (35 mi) carry about 85% of the 86 miles. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Niterói to Cabo Frio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 1–39 | 38 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-124 | 39–74 | 35 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 74–76 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-140 | 76–84 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 84–86 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
Where to stop on the way to Cabo Frio
Praia do Buraco
About four kilometers from Praia Central in Balneário Camboriú, Praia do Buraco borders Praia do Canto; strong waves make it unsafe for swimming, so it draws mostly fishermen and photographers.
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.
Coqueiral
Coqueiral is a beach in Araruama, Rio de Janeiro state, in a neighborhood of the same name along the Amaral Peixoto highway.
Araruama Lagoon
In Rio de Janeiro state's Região dos Lagos, Araruama Lagoon is a permanent hypersaline lagoon covering 220 km², about 40 km long and 13 km wide.
Costa do Sol State Park
Scattered along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Costa do Sol State Park protects fragments of Atlantic Forest coastal habitat under pressure from urban growth.
In Cabo Frio itself
Forte de São Mateus do Cabo Frio
Forte de São Mateus do Cabo Frio is a fort in Cabo Frio, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Praia das Palmeiras
Praia das Palmeiras sits in the Cabo Frio neighborhood of the same name, about 3 km from the center, between Araruama Lagoon and the Itajuru Canal, a spot known for catching shrimp and crab.
Museu de Arte Religiosa e Tradicional
In Cabo Frio, the Museu de Arte Religiosa e Tradicional occupies the former Convent of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, a 17th-century Baroque building, and is run by the Brazilian Institute of Museums.
More drives to Cabo Frio
- Petrópolis to Cabo Frio
- Taubaté to Cabo Frio
- São José dos Campos to Cabo Frio
- Jacareí to Cabo Frio
- Mogi das Cruzes to Cabo Frio
- São Paulo to Cabo Frio
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 Cabo Frio?
About 2 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 86 miles.
What is the driving distance from Niterói to Cabo Frio?
About 86 miles (138 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 Niterói to Cabo Frio?
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 Cabo Frio?
In order: BR-101, RJ-124 and RJ-140. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Niterói to Cabo Frio?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 30, 1 mi from the route); Coqueiral (beach, mile 64, 4 mi from the route); Araruama Lagoon (hypersaline lagoon, mile 68, 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.