The Wayro route from Petrolina to Caxias is 442 miles (711 km), about 9 h 42 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance | 442 mi (711 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-407 → BR-230 → BR-343 → BR-226 → BR-316 |
| States on the route | Pernambuco, Piauí, Maranhão |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
How the Petrolina to Caxias drive plays out
BR-407 (200 mi) and BR-230 (150 mi) carry about 79% of the 442 miles. It runs through 3 states: Pernambuco, Piauí, Maranhão. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Petrolina and Caxias
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Pernambuco |
| BR-407 | 1–201 | 200 | Pernambuco, Piauí |
| connecting roads | 201–204 | 3 | Piauí |
| BR-230 | 204–354 | 150 | Piauí |
| BR-343 | 354–395 | 41 | Piauí |
| connecting roads | 395–397 | 2 | Piauí |
| BR-226 | 397–400 | 3 | Maranhão |
| BR-316 | 400–439 | 39 | Maranhão |
| local roads | 439–442 | 3 | Maranhão |
- Mile 80 of this route: Pernambuco → Piauí (state line)
- Mile 397 of this route: Piauí → Maranhão (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Caxias
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Picos (mile 203), Museu Ozildo Albano (mile 204)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Picos (mile 203), Museu Ozildo Albano (mile 204), Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora das Dores (mile 395), Museu do Piauí (mile 395)
Catedral de Picos
Known as the Cathedral of Picos, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Remedies is a Catholic church in Picos, Piauí, and the seat of the Diocese of Picos.
Museu Ozildo Albano
Collector José Albano de Macedo, known as Ozildo Albano, founded this museum in central Picos in 1968, gathering household items, documents, photos, sacred art, books and records; it focuses on the Guaribas River valley's heritage.
Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora das Dores
Locally called the Igreja das Dores, the Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora das Dores is Teresina's Catholic cathedral and the seat of the Archdiocese of Teresina in Piauí.
Museu do Piauí
Created and run by the Piauí state government, the Museu do Piauí is a museum founded in 1995 by former vice governor Osmar Junior.
Once you reach Caxias
Memorial da Balaiada
Opened in 2004 in Caxias, 365 km from São Luís, Memorial da Balaiada is an educational and cultural center with a museum and a documentation center.
More drives to Caxias
From Petrolina to other places in Brazil
- Petrolina to Praia do Forte
- Petrolina to Morro de São Paulo
- Petrolina to Cabo de Santo Agostinho
- Petrolina to Ilhéus
- Petrolina to Canoa Quebrada
- Petrolina to Codó
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Petrolina to Caxias?
About 9 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 442 miles.
How far is Caxias from Petrolina by car?
About 442 miles (711 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 Petrolina to Caxias drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Petrolina to Caxias?
In order: BR-407, BR-230, BR-343, BR-226 and BR-316. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Petrolina and Caxias?
Closest to the road: Catedral de Picos (cathedral, mile 203, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Ozildo Albano (museum, mile 204, 1 mi from the route); Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora das Dores (cathedral, mile 395, 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.