Niterói to Guaratinguetá is about 165 road miles (266 km): roughly 3 h 24 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 165 mi (266 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Niterói to Guaratinguetá drive plays out
BR-116 (144 mi) and BR-040 (9 mi) carry about 93% of the 165 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 6 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Niterói to Guaratinguetá, 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 | 20–164 | 144 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| local roads | 164–165 | 1 | São Paulo |
- Mile 124 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Guaratinguetá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Baths of King João VI at Caju (mile 8), Museu da Geodiversidade (mile 12), Parque Shanghai (mile 14), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27), Itatiaia National Park (mile 114)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 14), Itatiaia National Park (mile 114)
- Museums and history: Baths of King João VI at Caju (mile 8), Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (mile 9), Museu da Geodiversidade (mile 12), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27)
Baths of King João VI at Caju
Also known as the Museu da Limpeza Urbana, the Baths of King João VI (Casa de Banho de Dom João VI) is a museum on Praia do Caju in Rio de Janeiro's Caju neighborhood.
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.
Museu da Geodiversidade
Created in December 2008, the Museu da Geodiversidade is dedicated to the history of planet Earth and the life that has developed on it.
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.
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.
When you get to Guaratinguetá
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.
Museu Frei Galvão
The Museu Frei Galvão is a municipal cultural institution in Guaratinguetá, in São Paulo state, maintained jointly by the city government and a local association of the museum's friends.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
In 1717, fishermen on the Paraíba do Sul River pulled up an image of Our Lady Aparecida. Today it rests in Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida, a basilica consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1980.
More drives to Guaratinguetá
- Jacareí to Guaratinguetá
- São Paulo to Guaratinguetá
- Jundiaí to Guaratinguetá
- Sorocaba to Guaratinguetá
- Itu to Guaratinguetá
- Limeira to Guaratinguetá
From Niterói to other places in Brazil
- Niterói to Petrópolis
- Niterói to Itaguaí
- Niterói to Barra do Piraí
- Niterói to Penedo
- Niterói to Pindamonhangaba
- Niterói to Taubaté
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Niterói to Guaratinguetá?
About 3 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 165 miles.
How far is Guaratinguetá from Niterói by car?
About 165 miles (266 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 Guaratinguetá 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 Guaratinguetá use?
In order: BR-101, BR-040 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Niterói to Guaratinguetá?
Closest to the road: Baths of King João VI at Caju (museum, mile 8, 0.3 mi from the route); Museu da Geodiversidade (museum, mile 12, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 114, 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.