Nova Friburgo to Itaúnas is about 409 road miles (658 km): roughly 11 h 17 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 | 409 mi (658 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-116 → RJ-192 → RJ-234 → BR-356 → RJ-204 → BR-101 → ES-422 → ES-010 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Nova Friburgo to Itaúnas
BR-101 (208 mi) and RJ-116 (65 mi) carry about 67% of the 409 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Nova Friburgo and Itaúnas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-116 | 1–66 | 65 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-192 | 66–83 | 17 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 83–86 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-234 | 86–101 | 15 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-356 | 101–112 | 11 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-204 | 112–172 | 60 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 172–380 | 208 | Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 380–385 | 5 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-422 | 385–396 | 11 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-010 | 396–408 | 12 | Espírito Santo |
| local roads | 408–409 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
- Mile 144 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Nova Friburgo and Itaúnas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (mile 249), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 279), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 381)
- Nature and outdoors: Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 180), Fonte Grande State Park (mile 250)
- Museums and history: Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (mile 249), Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 252), Ruins of the Church of São José do Queimado (mile 260), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 279), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 381)
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.
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.
Fonte Grande State Park
Fonte Grande State Park is a state-protected park in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.
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.
Ruins of the Church of São José do Queimado
In the Queimado district of Serra, Espírito Santo, these church ruins stand as a historic reminder of the Queimado Insurrection, an 1849 slave uprising.
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.
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.
Arriving in Itaúnas
Itaúnas State Park
In northern Espírito Santo, Itaúnas State Park protects the lower Itaúnas River along with a strip of marshes, dunes and Atlantic beaches.
More drives to Itaúnas
- Serra to Itaúnas
- Cariacica to Itaúnas
- Vitória to Itaúnas
- Vila Velha to Itaúnas
- Guarapari to Itaúnas
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Itaúnas
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 Itaúnas?
About 11 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 409 miles.
How far is Itaúnas from Nova Friburgo by car?
About 409 miles (658 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Nova Friburgo to Itaúnas drive?
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 Nova Friburgo to Itaúnas use?
In order: RJ-116, RJ-192, RJ-234, BR-356, RJ-204, BR-101, ES-422 and ES-010. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Nova Friburgo to Itaúnas?
Closest to the road: Museu da Polícia Militar do Espírito Santo (police museum, mile 249, 0.2 mi from the route); Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 279, 0.2 mi from the route); St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (cathedral, mile 381, 0.5 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.