The Wayro route from Nova Friburgo to Itanhaém is 401 miles (645 km), about 8 h 40 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 | 401 mi (645 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-116 → RJ-122 → BR-116 → BR-493 → SPI 117/070 → SP-070 → SP-021 → SP-160 → SP-055 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Nova Friburgo to Itanhaém: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (173 mi) and SPI 117/070 (43 mi) carry about 54% of the 401 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Nova Friburgo and Itanhaém
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-116 | 1–29 | 28 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-122 | 29–52 | 23 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 52–53 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 53–75 | 22 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 75–105 | 30 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 105–106 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 106–257 | 151 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SPI 117/070 | 257–300 | 43 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 300–316 | 16 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 316–317 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 317–349 | 32 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 349–351 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 351–370 | 19 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 370–371 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-055 | 371–400 | 29 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 400–401 | 1 | São Paulo |
- Mile 185 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Nova Friburgo and Itanhaém
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Três Picos State Park (mile 19), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 224)
- Nature and outdoors: Três Picos State Park (mile 19), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 52), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175), Parque Natural Estoril (mile 344), Xixová-Japuí State Park (mile 375), Praia da Guilhermina (mile 375), Praia da Tupi (mile 378)
- Museums and history: Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 224), Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 290)
Três Picos State Park
Três Picos State Park protects a large mountainous area of Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro state.
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.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
In 1956, São Paulo state created a set of museums for presidents born in the state, among them this one in Guaratinguetá dedicated to Rodrigues Alves, Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906.
Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley
Ceramic vessels and stone tools are among the archaeological finds at the Museu de Antropologia do Vale do Paraíba in Jacareí, which also displays sacred art, folk art and paintings.
Parque Natural Estoril
In São Bernardo do Campo, Parque Natural Estoril is a conservation area protecting Atlantic Forest, part of the Billings Reservoir and local wildlife across roughly 373,000 square meters.
Xixová-Japuí State Park
On the Atlantic coast of São Paulo state, Xixová-Japuí State Park protects an isolated stretch of well-preserved Atlantic Forest.
Praia da Guilhermina
Stretching 1.5 kilometers along the shore of Praia Grande, São Paulo, Praia da Guilhermina sits between Aviação and Boqueirão beaches.
Praia da Tupi
Praia da Tupi is a beach in Praia Grande, São Paulo state, with yellowish sand and blue water; it is one of the city's less crowded beaches and a favorite with surfers.
More drives to Itanhaém
- Cubatão to Itanhaém
- São Paulo to Itanhaém
- Jundiaí to Itanhaém
- Bragança Paulista to Itanhaém
- Itu to Itanhaém
- Campinas to Itanhaém
From Nova Friburgo to other places in Brazil
- Nova Friburgo to Itaguaí
- Nova Friburgo to Pindamonhangaba
- Nova Friburgo to Caraguatatuba
- Nova Friburgo to Bragança Paulista
- Nova Friburgo to Paranapiacaba
- Nova Friburgo to Itu
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nova Friburgo to Itanhaém?
About 8 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 401 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nova Friburgo to Itanhaém?
About 401 miles (645 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 Nova Friburgo to Itanhaém?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Nova Friburgo to Itanhaém?
In order: RJ-116, RJ-122, BR-116, BR-493, SPI 117/070, SP-070, SP-021, SP-160 and SP-055. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Nova Friburgo and Itanhaém?
Closest to the road: Três Picos State Park (state park, mile 19, 0.3 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 175, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (museum, mile 224, 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.