The Wayro route from Petrópolis to Cabo Frio is 108 miles (174 km), about 3 h 2 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 by road | 108 mi (174 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-107 → BR-116 → BR-493 → BR-101 → RJ-124 → RJ-140 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 4.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving Petrópolis to Cabo Frio: the shape of the trip
RJ-124 (36 mi) and BR-101 (22 mi) carry about 54% of the 108 miles. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Petrópolis to Cabo Frio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-107 | 2–12 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 12–16 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 16–22 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 22–39 | 17 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 39–61 | 22 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-124 | 61–97 | 36 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 97–99 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-140 | 99–106 | 7 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 106–108 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
What to see on the way from Petrópolis to Cabo Frio
- Nature and outdoors: Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 12), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 53), Coqueiral (mile 86), Araruama Lagoon (mile 90), Costa do Sol State Park (mile 96)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 21)
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.
Coqueiral
Coqueiral is a beach in Araruama, Rio de Janeiro state, in a neighborhood of the same name along the Amaral Peixoto highway.
Araruama Lagoon
In Rio de Janeiro state's Região dos Lagos, Araruama Lagoon is a permanent hypersaline lagoon covering 220 km², about 40 km long and 13 km wide.
Costa do Sol State Park
Scattered along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Costa do Sol State Park protects fragments of Atlantic Forest coastal habitat under pressure from urban growth.
Once you reach Cabo Frio
Forte de São Mateus do Cabo Frio
Forte de São Mateus do Cabo Frio is a fort in Cabo Frio, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Praia das Palmeiras
Praia das Palmeiras sits in the Cabo Frio neighborhood of the same name, about 3 km from the center, between Araruama Lagoon and the Itajuru Canal, a spot known for catching shrimp and crab.
Museu de Arte Religiosa e Tradicional
In Cabo Frio, the Museu de Arte Religiosa e Tradicional occupies the former Convent of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, a 17th-century Baroque building, and is run by the Brazilian Institute of Museums.
More drives to Cabo Frio
- Niterói to Cabo Frio
- Taubaté to Cabo Frio
- São José dos Campos to Cabo Frio
- Jacareí to Cabo Frio
- Mogi das Cruzes to Cabo Frio
- São Paulo to Cabo Frio
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 does it take to drive from Petrópolis to Cabo Frio?
About 3 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 108 miles.
How far is Cabo Frio from Petrópolis by car?
About 108 miles (174 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 Petrópolis to Cabo Frio 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 Petrópolis to Cabo Frio use?
In order: RJ-107, BR-116, BR-493, BR-101, RJ-124 and RJ-140. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Petrópolis and Cabo Frio?
Closest to the road: Taquara Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 12, 3 mi from the route); Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 53, 1 mi from the route); Coqueiral (beach, mile 86, 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.