Plan on about 10 h 40 min of driving for the 549-mile (884 km) trip from Petrópolis to Marília, 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Total distance | 549 mi (884 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-493 → BR-116 → SP-060 → SP-015 → SP-280 → SP-225 → SP-293 → SP-294 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Petrópolis to Marília drive plays out
BR-116 (189 mi) and SP-280 (184 mi) carry about 68% of the 549 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Petrópolis to Marília
| 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 | 50–239 | 189 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 239–273 | 34 | São Paulo |
| SP-015 | 273–283 | 10 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 283–288 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SP-280 | 288–472 | 184 | São Paulo |
| SP-225 | 472–491 | 19 | São Paulo |
| SP-293 | 491–506 | 15 | São Paulo |
| SP-294 | 506–547 | 41 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 547–549 | 2 | São Paulo |
- Mile 130 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
What to see on the way from Petrópolis to Marília
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 120), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 173)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 120), Parque Geológico do Varvito (mile 327)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 21), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 173), Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro (mile 221), Basilica of the Most Blessed Sacrament, São Paulo (mile 276), Historical Museum of Japanese Immigration in Brazil (mile 276), Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo (mile 284), Museu de Geociências do Instituto de Geociências da USP (mile 284)
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
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida houses the image of Our Lady Aparecida that fishermen pulled from the Paraíba do Sul River in 1717. Work on the current basilica began in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980.
Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro
Inside the DCTA aerospace complex in São José dos Campos, this memorial traces Brazil's aerospace history with aircraft such as the Bandeirante and Tucano, the VLS-1 rocket, engines, simulators and satellite parts.
Basilica of the Most Blessed Sacrament, São Paulo
This Catholic basilica stands at the corner of Cásper Líbero Avenue and Santa Ifigênia Street in São Paulo's Santa Ifigênia district.
Historical Museum of Japanese Immigration in Brazil
Opened in 1978 in Liberdade, this museum marks Japanese immigration to Brazil with more than 97,000 historical items, including photos, films and videos.
Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo
Run as a department of the University of São Paulo, this museum of archaeology and ethnology focuses on research, teaching, and sharing cultural and scientific knowledge with the public.
Museu de Geociências do Instituto de Geociências da USP
On the University of São Paulo's Butantã campus, the Geosciences Museum is open to the public with collections covering geology, mineralogy and paleontology.
Parque Geológico do Varvito
Banded rock walls line a former quarry in Itu, where Parque Geológico do Varvito shows off varvite, sediment that settled in glacial lakes some 280 million years ago.
When you get to Marília
Museu de Paleontologia de Marília
One of the few museums in Brazil devoted entirely to paleontology, the Museu de Paleontologia de Marília is a science museum in Marília, São Paulo state.
More drives to Marília
- São Carlos to Marília
- Limeira to Marília
- Franca to Marília
- Jundiaí to Marília
- São Paulo to Marília
- Mogi das Cruzes to Marília
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 Marília?
About 10 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 549 miles.
How far is Marília from Petrópolis by car?
About 549 miles (884 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 Marília 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 Marília use?
In order: BR-040, BR-493, BR-116, SP-060, SP-015, SP-280, SP-225, SP-293 and SP-294. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Petrópolis and Marília?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 120, 0.4 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, mile 173, 0.4 mi from the route); Basilica of the Most Blessed Sacrament, São Paulo (church, mile 276, 2 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.