By road, Niterói and Santos are about 316 miles (508 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 32 min of driving.
- 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 316 mi (508 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-070 → SP-021 → SP-150 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Niterói to Santos: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (176 mi) and SPI 117/070 (42 mi) carry about 69% of the 316 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Niterói to Santos, 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 | 20–196 | 176 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 196–197 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SPI 117/070 | 197–239 | 42 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 239–255 | 16 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 255–257 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 257–286 | 29 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 286–287 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-150 | 287–311 | 24 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 311–316 | 5 | São Paulo |
- Mile 124 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Santos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 9), Parque Shanghai (mile 14), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27), Itatiaia National Park (mile 114), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 168)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 14), Itatiaia National Park (mile 114), Ecological Park of Perequê (mile 304)
- Museums and history: Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 9), Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 9), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 168), Museu Mazzaropi (mile 191), Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 229)
Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
The Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro covers the history of the state's prisons and displays contraband seized in prison units, from cell phones to tools used in escape attempts.
Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins
A public federal institution in Rio's São Cristóvão district, the Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins studies and shares the history of science and technology in Brazil.
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.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida houses the image of Our Lady Aparecida that fishermen pulled from the Paraíba do Sul River in 1717. Work on the current basilica began in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980.
Museu Mazzaropi
On the grounds of Amácio Mazzaropi's former studio in Taubaté, a museum honors the comedian and filmmaker with photos, furniture, props and equipment his PAM Filmes used from 1950 to 1980.
Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley
An 1857 mansion in Jacareí is home to the Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley, where collections range from paintings and religious and popular art to archaeological pottery and stone tools.
Ecological Park of Perequê
Named for the Perequê River that runs through it, the Ecological Park of Perequê (Parque Ecológico do Perequê) is a natural area in the municipality of Cubatão.
Arriving in Santos
Museum of Sacred Art in Santos
Founded in 1981, the Museum of Sacred Art in Santos occupies the former São Bento Monastery, begun in 1650 and attached to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro, built in 1631.
Praia do Guaiuba
With fine, light-colored sand stretching about 790 meters, Praia do Guaiúba is a beach in Guarujá, São Paulo.
Góis Beach
Fishing families make up most of the community at Góis Beach (Praia do Góis), a 250-meter beach in Guarujá, São Paulo, ringed by hills covered in Atlantic Forest.
More drives to Santos
- São Paulo to Santos
- Jundiaí to Santos
- Campinas to Santos
- Ribeirão Preto to Santos
- Uberlândia to Santos
- Mogi das Cruzes to Santos
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 Santos?
About 6 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 316 miles.
How far is Santos from Niterói by car?
About 316 miles (508 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 Santos?
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 Santos use?
In order: BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SPI 117/070, SP-070, SP-021 and SP-150. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Niterói and Santos?
Closest to the road: Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (museum, mile 9, 0.5 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 114, 0.2 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, mile 168, 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.