Petrópolis to Paranaguá is about 554 road miles (891 km): roughly 11 h 50 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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 by road | 554 mi (891 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-493 → BR-116 → SP-060 → SP-015 → SP-021 → SP-230 → PR-410 → PR-411 → PR-408 → BR-277 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Petrópolis–Paranaguá drive in a few lines
SP-230 (209 mi) and BR-116 (189 mi) carry about 72% of the 554 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Petrópolis and Paranaguá
| 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 | 283–289 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 289–297 | 8 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 297–299 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-230 | 299–508 | 209 | São Paulo, Paraná |
| PR-410 | 508–520 | 12 | Paraná |
| PR-411 | 520–529 | 9 | Paraná |
| PR-408 | 529–533 | 4 | Paraná |
| connecting roads | 533–534 | 1 | Paraná |
| BR-277 | 534–553 | 19 | Paraná |
| local roads | 553–554 | 1 | Paraná |
- Mile 130 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 472 of this route: São Paulo → Paraná (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Petrópolis and Paranaguá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 120), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 173), Santuário do Sagrado Coração de Jesus (mile 277), Memorial da Inclusão (mile 278)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 120), Campina do Encantado State Park (mile 405), Rio Turvo State Park (mile 442), Graciosa State Park (mile 516)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 21), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 173), Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani" (mile 202), Santuário do Sagrado Coração de Jesus (mile 277), Memorial da Inclusão (mile 278)
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
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Construction of the current basilica at Aparecida started in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980. As Brazil's National Shrine, it keeps the image of Our Lady Aparecida found by fishermen in 1717.
Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani"
Photos, furniture, machinery and a period classroom recall immigrant life at the Italian Immigration Museum, housed in the brick Casa Indiani in Quiririm, a district of Taubaté.
Santuário do Sagrado Coração de Jesus
This Catholic church in São Paulo's Campos Elísios neighborhood, the Santuário do Sagrado Coração de Jesus, follows a Roman basilica layout with three naves.
Memorial da Inclusão
In São Paulo's Barra Funda neighborhood, the Memorial da Inclusão tells the story of the disability rights movement in Brazil and worldwide, focusing on the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Campina do Encantado State Park
A peat bog and a stretch of wetland forest are protected in Campina do Encantado State Park, in Pariquera-Açu, São Paulo state. The ecosystem is described as unique and of great scientific interest.
Rio Turvo State Park
Roughly 73,900 hectares of Atlantic Forest fall within Rio Turvo State Park, which reaches into Cajati, Barra do Turvo and Jacupiranga. It has trails, a waterfall, a cave and Morro do Guaraú.
Graciosa State Park
Created by state decree in 1990 near Morretes, Paraná, Graciosa State Park protects dense Atlantic Forest, with a mandate to preserve the area's water regime, plants and wildlife.
More drives to Paranaguá
- Curitiba to Paranaguá
- Ponta Grossa to Paranaguá
- Guarapuava to Paranaguá
- Mogi das Cruzes to Paranaguá
- Campinas to Paranaguá
- Bragança Paulista to Paranaguá
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 Paranaguá?
About 11 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 554 miles.
What is the driving distance from Petrópolis to Paranaguá?
About 554 miles (891 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 Paranaguá drive?
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 Paranaguá?
In order: BR-040, BR-493, BR-116, SP-060, SP-015, SP-021, SP-230, PR-410, PR-411, PR-408 and BR-277. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Petrópolis and Paranaguá?
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); Memorial da Inclusão (museum, mile 278, 0.8 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.