The Wayro route from Niterói to Pouso Alegre is 249 miles (400 km), about 5 h 15 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 249 mi (400 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-048 → BR-459 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Niterói–Pouso Alegre drive in a few lines
BR-116 (135 mi) and BR-459 (76 mi) carry about 85% of the 249 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Niterói and Pouso Alegre
| 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 | 20–155 | 135 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 155–156 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-048 | 156–171 | 15 | São Paulo |
| BR-459 | 171–247 | 76 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 247–249 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 124 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 176 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Niterói to Pouso Alegre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27), Itatiaia National Park (mile 114)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 114)
- Museums and history: Panteão de Caxias (mile 8), Museum Dom João VI (mile 12), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27)
Panteão de Caxias
On Avenida Presidente Vargas in Rio de Janeiro, the Panteão de Caxias is a monument built to hold the remains of the Duke of Caxias, patron of the Brazilian army, and his wife.
Museum Dom João VI
Museu Dom João VI is an art and history museum linked to the School of Fine Arts at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, on Ilha do Fundão.
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
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Once you reach Pouso Alegre
Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre
Good Jesus Cathedral is the Catholic seat of the Archdiocese of Pouso Alegre, in the city of the same name in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Pouso Alegre
- São José dos Campos to Pouso Alegre
- São Paulo to Pouso Alegre
- Itu to Pouso Alegre
- Santos to Pouso Alegre
- São Vicente to Pouso Alegre
- Sorocaba to Pouso Alegre
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 does it take to drive from Niterói to Pouso Alegre?
About 5 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 249 miles.
How far is Pouso Alegre from Niterói by car?
About 249 miles (400 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 Pouso Alegre?
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 Pouso Alegre?
In order: BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SP-048 and BR-459. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Niterói to Pouso Alegre?
Closest to the road: Museum Dom João VI (museum, mile 12, 1 mi from the route); Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 27, 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.