Plan on about 7 h 8 min of driving for the 345-mile (556 km) trip from Petrópolis to Itanhaém, 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 345 mi (556 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-493 → BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-070 → SP-021 → SP-160 → SP-055 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Petrópolis–Itanhaém drive in a few lines
BR-116 (152 mi) and SPI 117/070 (42 mi) carry about 56% of the 345 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Petrópolis and Itanhaém
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 4–19 | 15 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 19–21 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 21–50 | 29 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 50–202 | 152 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SPI 117/070 | 202–244 | 42 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 244–260 | 16 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 260–262 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 262–293 | 31 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 293–296 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 296–314 | 18 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 314–316 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-055 | 316–345 | 29 | São Paulo |
- Mile 130 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Petrópolis and Itanhaém
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 120), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 169), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 173)
- Nature and outdoors: Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 15), Itatiaia National Park (mile 120), Parque Natural Estoril (mile 289), Boqueirão Beach (mile 320), Praia da Tupi (mile 324)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 21), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 169), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 173), Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 234)
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.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
In 1956, São Paulo state created a set of museums for presidents born in the state, among them this one in Guaratinguetá dedicated to Rodrigues Alves, Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Archaeological pieces and sacred objects from the region fill the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum, within the Aparecida basilica complex. The museum opened in 1956.
Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley
Housed in an 1857 mansion in Jacareí, the Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (Museu de Antropologia do Vale do Paraíba) shows sacred and folk art, paintings, and archaeological finds such as ceramic vessels and stone tools.
Parque Natural Estoril
In São Bernardo do Campo, Parque Natural Estoril is a conservation area protecting Atlantic Forest, part of the Billings Reservoir and local wildlife across roughly 373,000 square meters.
Boqueirão Beach
Running 670 meters along the Praia Grande shoreline between Forte and Guilhermina beaches, Praia do Boqueirão has restaurants, kiosks and a tourist information post.
Praia da Tupi
Praia da Tupi is a beach in Praia Grande, São Paulo state, with yellowish sand and blue water; it is one of the city's less crowded beaches and a favorite with surfers.
More drives to Itanhaém
- Cubatão to Itanhaém
- São Paulo to Itanhaém
- Jundiaí to Itanhaém
- Bragança Paulista to Itanhaém
- Itu to Itanhaém
- Campinas to Itanhaém
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 Itanhaém?
About 7 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 345 miles.
How far is Itanhaém from Petrópolis by car?
About 345 miles (556 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 Itanhaém?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Petrópolis to Itanhaém?
In order: BR-040, BR-493, BR-116, SPI 117/070, SP-070, SP-021, SP-160 and SP-055. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Petrópolis to Itanhaém?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 120, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (museum, mile 169, 0.5 mi from the route); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 173, 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.