The Wayro route from Niterói to Governador Valadares is 367 miles (590 km), about 10 h 6 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 367 mi (590 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Niterói to Governador Valadares
BR-116 (240 mi) and BR-040 (61 mi) carry about 82% of the 367 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Niterói to Governador Valadares
| 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 | 9–70 | 61 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 70–71 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 71–114 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 114–118 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-116 | 118–291 | 173 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 291–295 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-116 | 295–362 | 67 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 362–364 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 364–367 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 112 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Niterói to Governador Valadares
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (mile 144), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Caratinga (mile 292)
- Nature and outdoors: Tijuca National Park (mile 9), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 54)
- Museums and history: Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (mile 9), Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 43), Santos Dumont House Museum (mile 43), Cathedral of Petrópolis (mile 47), St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (mile 144), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Caratinga (mile 292)
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.
Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos
Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos is a Catholic basilica and sanctuary on Rua Haddock Lobo, in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
Casa Stefan Zweig
Founded in 2006, Casa Stefan Zweig is a writer's house museum in Petrópolis, set in the home where Stefan Zweig lived with his wife.
Santos Dumont House Museum
Known as A Encantada, the Santos Dumont House Museum in Petrópolis is the house built in 1918 for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont on a steep hillside near the city center.
Cathedral of Petrópolis
Dedicated to the city's patron, Saint Peter of Alcantara, the Cathedral of Petrópolis is the final resting place of Dom Pedro II, Brazil's last emperor, and his family.
Serra dos Órgãos National Park
Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects the Serra dos Órgãos range between Petrópolis and Teresópolis, where a roughly 28 km traverse climbs past the Castelos do Açu to Pedra do Sino at 2,263 meters.
St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina
Seat of the Diocese of Leopoldina, St. Sebastian Cathedral is a Catholic parish church in Leopoldina, Minas Gerais.
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Caratinga
Also called Caratinga Cathedral, St. John the Baptist Cathedral is a Catholic church in the town of Caratinga, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
When you get to Governador Valadares
St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral, Governador Valadares
St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral is the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Governador Valadares, in the city of the same name in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Governador Valadares
- Franca to Governador Valadares
- Uberaba to Governador Valadares
- Jundiaí to Governador Valadares
- Limeira to Governador Valadares
- Campinas to Governador Valadares
- São Paulo to Governador Valadares
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 Governador Valadares?
About 10 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 367 miles.
How far is Governador Valadares from Niterói by car?
About 367 miles (590 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 Governador Valadares?
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 Governador Valadares?
In order: BR-101, BR-040 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Niterói and Governador Valadares?
Closest to the road: Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (basilica, mile 9, 2 mi from the route); St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (cathedral, mile 144, 0.4 mi from the route); St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Caratinga (cathedral, mile 292, 0.2 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.