Niterói to Itabira is about 342 road miles (550 km): roughly 8 h 36 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance by road | 342 mi (550 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-040 → MGC-356 → BR-381 → MG-434 → MG-129 → AMG-1210 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Niterói to Itabira
BR-040 (257 mi) and BR-381 (35 mi) carry about 85% of the 342 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Niterói to Itabira
| 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 | 9–144 | 135 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 144–148 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 148–270 | 122 | Minas Gerais |
| MGC-356 | 270–275 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 275–281 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 281–283 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 283–318 | 35 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 318–319 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-434 | 319–331 | 12 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-129 | 331–334 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1210 | 334–340 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 340–342 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 93 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Niterói and Itabira
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Marília Theatre (mile 277)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 54)
- Museums and history: Museu Militar Conde de Linhares (mile 9), Museu Casa de Benjamin Constant (mile 9), Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 43), Museu da Loucura (mile 174)
Museu Militar Conde de Linhares
In Rio de Janeiro's São Cristóvão neighborhood, the Museu Militar Conde de Linhares covers military history and is named for the nobleman who accompanied the Portuguese court's move to Brazil.
Museu Casa de Benjamin Constant
Run by the Brazilian Institute of Museums, the Museu Casa de Benjamin Constant opened in 1982 in the Santa Teresa house where the teacher, engineer and soldier lived.
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.
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.
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, this hilltop sanctuary in Congonhas is famous for Aleijadinho's 12 soapstone prophets on the front terraces and six chapels holding 64 life-size cedar figures of the Passion.
Marília Theatre
The Marília Theatre (Teatro Marília) is a theater in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte.
In Itabira itself
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Itabira
Known locally as Itabira Cathedral, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the municipality of Itabira, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Itabira
- Sete Lagoas to Itabira
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Itabira
- Barbacena to Itabira
- Juiz de Fora to Itabira
- Araxá to Itabira
- Petrópolis to Itabira
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 Itabira?
About 8 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 342 miles.
What is the driving distance from Niterói to Itabira?
About 342 miles (550 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 Itabira 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 Itabira?
In order: BR-101, BR-040, MGC-356, BR-381, MG-434, MG-129 and AMG-1210. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Niterói to Itabira?
Closest to the road: Museu Militar Conde de Linhares (museum, mile 9, 1 mi from the route); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos (calvary, mile 229, 1 mi from the route); Marília Theatre (theater, mile 277, 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.