Niterói to São Mateus is about 439 road miles (706 km): roughly 11 h 13 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 | 439 mi (706 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → RJ-228 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Niterói to São Mateus is like
BR-101 (393 mi) and RJ-228 (44 mi) carry about 100% of the 439 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Niterói to São Mateus, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 1–187 | 186 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-228 | 187–231 | 44 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 231–438 | 207 | Espírito Santo |
| local roads | 438–439 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
- Mile 202 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
What to see on the way from Niterói to São Mateus
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (mile 307), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 337)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Buraco (mile 7), Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 239), Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 286), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 306)
- Museums and history: Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (mile 307), Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 311), Serra Historical Museum (mile 322), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 337)
Praia do Buraco
About four kilometers from Praia Central in Balneário Camboriú, Praia do Buraco borders Praia do Canto; strong waves make it unsafe for swimming, so it draws mostly fishermen and photographers.
Frade e a Freira Natural Monument
Created by state decree in 2007, the Frade e a Freira Natural Monument is a state-run protected area in Espírito Santo spanning parts of Itapemirim, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and Vargem Alta.
Paulo César Vinha State Park
Along the Atlantic shore in Guarapari, Paulo César Vinha State Park protects dunes, lagoons and marshes. Its trails lead to the beach and to Lagoa de Caraís.
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument protects a small sugarloaf-shaped hill on the shore of the bay south of Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo
In Cariacica, the Espírito Santo Military Police Museum holds more than 600 objects and 900 photographs on the force's history, in a building that closely resembles the state's first barracks, Quartel do Moscoso.
Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras
On Ilha das Caieiras in Vitória, Espírito Santo, this history museum is named for Manoel Passos Lyrio; an expansion begun in 2022 adds a section devoted to local fishermen.
Serra Historical Museum
Founded in 2007, the Serra Historical Museum (Museu Histórico da Serra) in the municipality of Serra, Espírito Santo, keeps a collection of documents, period objects and other historical items.
Casa da Cultura de Fundão
Once the Agostini family residence, this two-story house in Fundão is protected as cultural heritage by Espírito Santo state and now works as a museum.
Buddha of Ibiraçu
Beside the BR-101 highway in Ibiraçu, a 35-meter Buddha statue rises at the Morro da Vargem Zen monastery. The giant figure, part of the monastery grounds, was officially inaugurated in August 2021.
Once you reach São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral in the municipality of São Mateus is a Catholic church regarded as a reference for modern religious art in Brazil.
Igreja Velha
Listed as historic heritage of São Mateus in Espírito Santo, Igreja Velha was planned as the town's biggest church, but construction was never finished for lack of municipal funds.
Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra
Set in a former seminary chapel in São Mateus, Espírito Santo, this museum of sacred art was founded by Bishop Dom Aldo Gerna.
More drives to São Mateus
- Rio das Ostras to São Mateus
- Nova Friburgo to São Mateus
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to São Mateus
- Teresópolis to São Mateus
- Juiz de Fora to São Mateus
- Sete Lagoas to São Mateus
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 São Mateus?
About 11 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 439 miles.
How far is São Mateus from Niterói by car?
About 439 miles (706 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 São Mateus?
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 São Mateus use?
In order: BR-101 and RJ-228. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Niterói to São Mateus?
Closest to the road: Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (protected area, mile 239, 1 mi from the route); Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (police museum, mile 307, 0.2 mi from the route); Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 337, 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.