By road, Petrópolis and Jacareí are about 232 miles (374 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 46 min of driving.
- 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.”
| Total distance | 232 mi (374 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-493 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Petrópolis to Jacareí: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (179 mi) and BR-493 (29 mi) carry about 90% of the 232 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.
The route from Petrópolis to Jacareí, road by road
| 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 | 50–229 | 179 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| local roads | 229–232 | 3 | São Paulo |
- Mile 130 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Jacareí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 120), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 173), Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 209)
- Nature and outdoors: Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 15), Itatiaia National Park (mile 120)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 21), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 173), Museu Monteiro Lobato (mile 198), Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani" (mile 202), Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 209), Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro (mile 221)
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.
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.
Museu Monteiro Lobato
Taubaté's tribute to children's author Monteiro Lobato dates to 1958. The museum occupies the grounds known as the Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, with a historic main house and exhibitions.
Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani"
Between 1897 and 1903, a family from Cremona built the brick Casa Indiani in Quiririm. Today the house in this Taubaté district holds the Italian Immigration Museum.
Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas
A rare Tucker Torpedo and a 1973 Ford Maverick are among the vintage vehicles and engines on display at the Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas in Caçapava.
Municipal Market of São José dos Campos
Completed in 1923 on the site of an 1896 market, the heritage-listed Municipal Market of São José dos Campos sells cheeses, spices, medicinal herbs, preserves, fish and meat, and is known for pastel with sugarcane juice.
Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro
Aircraft such as the Bandeirante and Tucano share space with the VLS-1 rocket, engines, simulators and satellite parts at this memorial to Brazil's aerospace history in São José dos Campos.
When you get to Jacareí
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.
More drives to Jacareí
- Jundiaí to Jacareí
- Limeira to Jacareí
- Araraquara to Jacareí
- Ribeirão Preto to Jacareí
- Bauru to Jacareí
- Franca to Jacareí
From Petrópolis to other places in Brazil
- Petrópolis to Guaratinguetá
- Petrópolis to Pindamonhangaba
- Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba
- Petrópolis to Bragança Paulista
- Petrópolis to Paranapiacaba
- Petrópolis to Cubatão
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Petrópolis to Jacareí?
About 4 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 232 miles.
What is the driving distance from Petrópolis to Jacareí?
About 232 miles (374 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 Jacareí?
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 Jacareí?
In order: BR-040, BR-493 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Petrópolis to Jacareí?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 120, 0.4 mi from the route); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 173, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (museum, mile 209, 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.