Plan on about 3 h 58 min of driving for the 137-mile (221 km) trip from Petrópolis to Muriaé, 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 | 137 mi (221 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
What the drive from Petrópolis to Muriaé is like
BR-116 (62 mi) and BR-040 (14 mi) carry about 55% of the 137 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Petrópolis to Muriaé, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–10 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 10–24 | 14 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 24–25 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 25–68 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 68–73 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-116 | 73–135 | 62 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 135–137 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 67 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Petrópolis and Muriaé
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (mile 99), Museu Espaço dos Anjos (mile 99)
- Nature and outdoors: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 15)
- Museums and history: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 15), St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (mile 99), Museu Espaço dos Anjos (mile 99)
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.
St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina
Seat of the Diocese of Leopoldina, St. Sebastian Cathedral is a Catholic parish church in Leopoldina, Minas Gerais.
Museu Espaço dos Anjos
Leopoldina's Museu Espaço dos Anjos occupies the house where poet Augusto dos Anjos lived, with a covered outdoor space that hosts music, theater and literary gatherings throughout the year.
More drives to Muriaé
- Teresópolis to Muriaé
- Rio de Janeiro to Muriaé
- Niterói to Muriaé
- Barra Mansa to Muriaé
- Itaguaí to Muriaé
- Pindamonhangaba to Muriaé
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 Muriaé?
About 3 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 137 miles.
How far is Muriaé from Petrópolis by car?
About 137 miles (221 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 Muriaé?
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 Muriaé use?
In order: BR-040 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 Muriaé?
Closest to the road: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (natural monument, mile 15, 3 mi from the route); St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (cathedral, mile 99, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Espaço dos Anjos (museum, mile 99, 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.