The Wayro route from Petrolina to Ilhéus is 463 miles (745 km), about 11 h 28 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Total distance | 463 mi (745 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-407 → BR-324 → BA-502 → BR-101 → BR-420 → BR-242 → BA-001 |
| States on the route | Pernambuco, Bahia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
On the road from Petrolina to Ilhéus
BA-001 (147 mi) and BR-407 (140 mi) carry about 62% of the 463 miles. It runs through 2 states: Pernambuco, Bahia. Of the 5 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Petrolina to Ilhéus
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Pernambuco, Bahia |
| BR-407 | 4–144 | 140 | Bahia |
| connecting roads | 144–145 | 1 | Bahia |
| BR-324 | 145–240 | 95 | Bahia |
| connecting roads | 240–244 | 4 | Bahia |
| local roads | 244–247 | 3 | Bahia |
| BA-502 | 247–267 | 20 | Bahia |
| BR-101 | 267–270 | 3 | Bahia |
| connecting roads | 270–273 | 3 | Bahia |
| BR-420 | 273–294 | 21 | Bahia |
| connecting roads | 294–296 | 2 | Bahia |
| BR-242 | 296–301 | 5 | Bahia |
| local roads | 301–311 | 10 | Bahia |
| BA-001 | 311–458 | 147 | Bahia |
| local roads | 458–463 | 5 | Bahia |
- Mile 1 of this route: Pernambuco → Bahia (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Petrolina and Ilhéus
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Sertão Museum (mile 242), Convento do Carmo (mile 274), Parish Church of Saint Bartholomew (mile 286), Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré de Camamú (mile 318)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Conduru State Park (mile 440)
- Museums and history: Sertão Museum (mile 242), Parish Church of Saint Bartholomew (mile 286), Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré de Camamú (mile 318)
Sertão Museum
On the campus of the State University of Feira de Santana, the Sertão Museum (Museu Casa do Sertão) opened in 1978 and preserves the culture and history of the Feira de Santana area.
Convento do Carmo
The Carmelites built Convento do Carmo, a Catholic cloister in Cachoeira, Bahia, in the 17th century.
Parish Church of Saint Bartholomew
Dedicated to Bartholomew the Apostle, this 17th-century Catholic church in Maragogipe, Bahia, belongs to the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré de Camamú
On Praça Almirante Muniz in the city of Nazaré, Bahia, the Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré de Camamu is a church now known as the Igreja de São Roque.
Serra do Conduru State Park
Serra do Conduru State Park in Bahia protects a stretch of Atlantic Forest that is regenerating after damage caused by human activity.
When you get to Ilhéus
Teatro Municipal de Ilhéus
Opened in December 1932, the Teatro Municipal de Ilhéus is a performance venue in the city of Ilhéus, Bahia.
St. Sebastian Cathedral, Ilhéus
St. Sebastian Cathedral, also called Ilhéus Cathedral, stands in the historic center of Ilhéus, Bahia, and is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Ilhéus.
Igreja Matriz de São Jorge
Built in 1556, the Igreja Matriz de São Jorge is the oldest Catholic church in Ilhéus, Bahia. It sits downtown on Rua Conselheiro Dantas, a setting for stories in Jorge Amado's books.
More drives to Ilhéus
- Feira de Santana to Ilhéus
- Salvador to Ilhéus
- Cariacica to Ilhéus
- Vitória to Ilhéus
- Aracaju to Ilhéus
- Arapiraca to Ilhéus
From Petrolina to other places in Brazil
- Petrolina to Praia do Forte
- Petrolina to Morro de São Paulo
- Petrolina to Caxias
- Petrolina to Cabo de Santo Agostinho
- Petrolina to Canoa Quebrada
- Petrolina to Codó
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Petrolina to Ilhéus?
About 11 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 463 miles.
How far is Ilhéus from Petrolina by car?
About 463 miles (745 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 Ilhéus 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 Ilhéus?
In order: BR-407, BR-324, BA-502, BR-101, BR-420, BR-242 and BA-001. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Petrolina and Ilhéus?
Closest to the road: Sertão Museum (university museum, mile 242, 0.0 mi from the route); Convento do Carmo (convent, mile 274, 0.4 mi from the route); Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Nazaré de Camamú (church, mile 318, 0.4 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.