By road, Niterói and Taubaté are about 192 miles (309 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 55 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 192 mi (309 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 55 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 7.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Niterói–Taubaté drive in a few lines
BR-116 (170 mi) and BR-040 (9 mi) carry about 93% of the 192 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 8 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Niterói to Taubaté
| 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 | 20–190 | 170 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| local roads | 190–192 | 2 | São Paulo |
- Mile 124 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Stops between Niterói and Taubaté
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 9), Museu da Maré (mile 11), Parque Shanghai (mile 14), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27), Itatiaia National Park (mile 114), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 164), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 168), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 168)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 14), Itatiaia National Park (mile 114)
- Museums and history: Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 9), Museu da Maré (mile 11), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 164), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 168), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 168)
- With kids: AquaRio (mile 7)
AquaRio
AquaRio, the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro, is a public aquarium in the Gamboa neighborhood of the city's port zone, with about 26,000 square meters of built area.
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.
Museu da Maré
Recording the history of the Maré communities in Rio de Janeiro, Museu da Maré centers on a permanent exhibition and also runs oral history research, storytelling and traveling exhibitions.
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
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.
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.
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.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Archaeological pieces and sacred objects from the region fill the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum, within the Aparecida basilica complex. The museum opened in 1956.
In Taubaté itself
Basilica of the Good Lord Jesus, Tremembé
Locally called the Basilica of Tremembé, this Catholic church in Tremembé, São Paulo, keeps a wooden carved image of the Good Lord Jesus, a significant religious artifact for the Church.
Museu Monteiro Lobato
Taubaté's tribute to children's author Monteiro Lobato dates to 1958. The museum occupies the grounds known as the Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, with a historic main house and exhibitions.
Museu Mazzaropi
More than 20,000 items, from photos and furniture to film props and equipment, tell the story of Amácio Mazzaropi at this Taubaté museum, set on the grounds of the comedian's former studio.
More drives to Taubaté
- São Paulo to Taubaté
- Jundiaí to Taubaté
- Campinas to Taubaté
- Ribeirão Preto to Taubaté
- Bauru to Taubaté
- Franca to Taubaté
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 Taubaté?
About 3 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 192 miles.
How far is Taubaté from Niterói by car?
About 192 miles (309 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 Taubaté?
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 Taubaté?
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 Taubaté?
Closest to the road: 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); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, 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.