The Wayro route from Nova Friburgo to Poços de Caldas is 372 miles (599 km), about 8 h 39 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance by road | 372 mi (599 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-116 → RJ-122 → BR-116 → BR-493 → SP-048 → BR-459 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
What the drive from Nova Friburgo to Poços de Caldas is like
BR-459 (136 mi) and BR-116 (132 mi) carry about 72% of the 372 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Nova Friburgo to Poços de Caldas
| 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 | 106–216 | 110 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-048 | 216–231 | 15 | São Paulo |
| BR-459 | 231–367 | 136 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 367–372 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 185 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 237 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Poços de Caldas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Três Picos State Park (mile 19), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175)
- Nature and outdoors: Três Picos State Park (mile 19), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 52), Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 71), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 75), Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (mile 308)
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.
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
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.
Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre
Good Jesus Cathedral is the Catholic seat of the Archdiocese of Pouso Alegre, in the city of the same name in Minas Gerais.
Arriving in Poços de Caldas
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
Built in 1937 on the site of the original parish church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health (Basílica de Nossa Senhora da Saúde) is a Catholic church in Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Poços de Caldas
- Limeira to Poços de Caldas
- Campinas to Poços de Caldas
- São Carlos to Poços de Caldas
- Jundiaí to Poços de Caldas
- Araraquara to Poços de Caldas
- Bragança Paulista to Poços de Caldas
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 does it take to drive from Nova Friburgo to Poços de Caldas?
About 8 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 372 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nova Friburgo to Poços de Caldas?
About 372 miles (599 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 Poços de Caldas?
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 Poços de Caldas?
In order: RJ-116, RJ-122, BR-116, BR-493, SP-048 and BR-459. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Nova Friburgo and Poços de Caldas?
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); Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (cathedral, mile 308, 1 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.