Plan on about 7 h 13 min of driving for the 261-mile (420 km) trip from Nova Serrana to Muriaé, before any 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 | 261 mi (420 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-262 → BR-381 → BR-040 → BR-356 → AMG-1730 → MG-262 → BR-120 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Nova Serrana–Muriaé drive in a few lines
BR-356 (80 mi) and BR-262 (60 mi) carry about 54% of the 261 miles. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Nova Serrana to Muriaé
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 1–61 | 60 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 61–70 | 9 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 70–72 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 72–89 | 17 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 89–128 | 39 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 128–131 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1730 | 131–136 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 136–139 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-262 | 139–176 | 37 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 176–180 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-120 | 180–217 | 37 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 217–258 | 41 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 258–261 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
Breaking up the drive: stops between Nova Serrana and Muriaé
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (mile 131), Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos (mile 137), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 180)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Rola-Moça State Park (mile 81), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 210)
- Museums and history: Pampulha Art Museum (mile 71), Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (mile 131), Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos (mile 137), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 180), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 210)
- With kids: João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 210)
Pampulha Modern Ensemble
Laid out around the artificial Lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, the Pampulha Modern Ensemble is an urban project that includes a casino, a ballroom, the Golf Yacht Club and the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Pampulha Art Museum
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer as the Cassino da Pampulha, the Pampulha Art Museum in Belo Horizonte is part of the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.
Serra do Rola-Moça State Park
On the edge of metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Serra do Rola-Moça State Park protects rugged ridges of the Espinhaço range where cerrado savanna meets Atlantic Forest.
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
Work on this Rococo Catholic church in Ouro Preto began in 1766 to a design by architect and sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho.
Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos
In the municipality of Mariana in Minas Gerais, the Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos is a Baroque Catholic church.
Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge
Opened in 1911 to serve the Leopoldina Railway, the Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge is a metal bridge over the Piranga River in Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais.
João Moojen Zoology Museum
Part of the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas Gerais, the João Moojen Zoology Museum is a public natural history museum tied to the Department of Animal Biology.
More drives to Muriaé
- Teresópolis to Muriaé
- Petrópolis to Muriaé
- Rio de Janeiro to Muriaé
- Niterói to Muriaé
- Barra Mansa to Muriaé
- Itaguaí to Muriaé
From Nova Serrana to other places in Brazil
- Nova Serrana to Fumaça
- Nova Serrana to Itaperuna
- Nova Serrana to Barra do Piraí
- Nova Serrana to Paranapiacaba
- Nova Serrana to Trindade
- Nova Serrana to Itanhaém
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Nova Serrana to Muriaé?
About 7 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 261 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nova Serrana to Muriaé?
About 261 miles (420 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 Serrana to Muriaé 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 Serrana to Muriaé use?
In order: BR-262, BR-381, BR-040, BR-356, AMG-1730, MG-262 and BR-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Nova Serrana and Muriaé?
Closest to the road: Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (church, mile 131, 0.1 mi from the route); Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos (church, mile 137, 0.3 mi from the route); Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (historic bridge, mile 180, 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.