Nova Friburgo to São Mateus is about 380 road miles (612 km): roughly 10 h 27 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance by road | 380 mi (612 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-116 → RJ-192 → RJ-234 → BR-356 → RJ-204 → BR-101 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Nova Friburgo to São Mateus is like
BR-101 (208 mi) and RJ-116 (65 mi) carry about 72% of the 380 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Nova Friburgo to São Mateus: the road sequence
| 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 |
- Mile 144 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
What to see on the way from Nova Friburgo to São Mateus
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 279)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 158), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 176), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 247), Fonte Grande State Park (mile 250)
- Museums and history: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 158), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 176), Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 252), Ruins of the Church of São José do Queimado (mile 260), Serra Historical Museum (mile 263), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 279)
Serra das Torres Natural Monument
Covering about 10,459 hectares of Atlantic Forest in Atílio Vivácqua, Mimoso do Sul and Muqui, the Serra das Torres Natural Monument was created in 2010 to protect the peaks of a mountain range in southern Espírito Santo.
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
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.
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.
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
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to São Mateus
- Teresópolis to São Mateus
- Juiz de Fora to São Mateus
- Sete Lagoas to São Mateus
- Petrópolis to São Mateus
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 São Mateus?
About 10 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 380 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nova Friburgo to São Mateus?
About 380 miles (612 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 São Mateus 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 São Mateus use?
In order: RJ-116, RJ-192, RJ-234, BR-356, RJ-204 and BR-101. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Nova Friburgo to São Mateus?
Closest to the road: Serra Historical Museum (museum, mile 263, 2 mi from the route); Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 279, 0.2 mi from the route); Buddha of Ibiraçu (statue, mile 286, 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.