The Wayro route from Petrópolis to Araxá is 444 miles (714 km), about 10 h 58 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 | 444 mi (714 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-265 → BR-494 → MG-260 → MG-164 → MG-050 → BR-354 → BR-262 → BR-146 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Petrópolis to Araxá drive plays out
BR-040 (115 mi) and BR-494 (77 mi) carry about 43% of the 444 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Petrópolis to Araxá
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–10 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 10–99 | 89 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 99–102 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 102–128 | 26 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 128–129 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 129–163 | 34 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 163–167 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 167–244 | 77 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 244–245 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 245–255 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-260 | 255–260 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 260–262 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-164 | 262–275 | 13 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 275–296 | 21 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-354 | 296–369 | 73 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 369–439 | 70 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-146 | 439–443 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 443–444 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 46 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Petrópolis to Araxá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Loucura (mile 131)
- Nature and outdoors: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 15)
- Museums and history: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 15), Museu da Loucura (mile 131), Museu de Sant'Ana (mile 160), Museu de Arte Sacra (mile 166)
Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument
The Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument is a municipal natural monument, a protected area in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
Museu de Sant'Ana
Founded in 2014 by the Instituto Cultural Flávio Gutierrez, this Tiradentes art museum specializes in images of Saint Anne, with a collection of 291 statues.
Historic center of São João del-Rei
São João del-Rei's historic center is the town's preserved colonial core, with churches, chapels, bridges, fountains, townhouses and street layouts dating from its 18th-century mining origins.
Museu de Arte Sacra
Inside São João del-Rei's former jail, the Museu de Arte Sacra holds about 450 religious objects, including liturgical vestments and sacred images, from local confraternities and orders.
More drives to Araxá
- Ribeirão Preto to Araxá
- Bauru to Araxá
- Limeira to Araxá
- Mogi Guaçu to Araxá
- Bragança Paulista to Araxá
- São Paulo to Araxá
From Petrópolis to other places in Brazil
- Petrópolis to Guaratinguetá
- Petrópolis to Pindamonhangaba
- Petrópolis to Jacareí
- Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba
- Petrópolis to Bragança Paulista
- Petrópolis to Paranapiacaba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Petrópolis to Araxá?
About 10 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 444 miles.
How far is Araxá from Petrópolis by car?
About 444 miles (714 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 Petrópolis to Araxá?
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 Petrópolis to Araxá use?
In order: BR-040, BR-265, BR-494, MG-260, MG-164, MG-050, BR-354, BR-262 and BR-146. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Petrópolis to Araxá?
Closest to the road: Museu da Loucura (museum, mile 131, 0.6 mi from the route); Historic center of São João del-Rei (old town, mile 166, 1 mi from the route); Museu de Arte Sacra (museum, mile 166, 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.