The Wayro route from Petrópolis to Passos is 395 miles (636 km), about 9 h 10 min of driving without 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.”
| Total distance | 395 mi (636 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-265 → BR-494 → MG-260 → MG-164 → MG-050 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Petrópolis to Passos drive plays out
MG-050 (118 mi) and BR-040 (115 mi) carry about 59% of the 395 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Petrópolis to Passos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–10 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 10–99 | 89 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 99–102 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 102–128 | 26 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 128–129 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 129–163 | 34 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 163–167 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 167–244 | 77 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 244–245 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 245–255 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-260 | 255–260 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 260–262 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-164 | 262–275 | 13 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 275–393 | 118 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 393–395 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 46 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Stops between Petrópolis and Passos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Loucura (mile 131)
- Nature and outdoors: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 15), Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 368)
- Museums and history: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 15), Museu da Loucura (mile 131), Museu de Sant'Ana (mile 160), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (mile 166)
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.
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
Museu de Sant'Ana
Founded in 2014 by the Instituto Cultural Flávio Gutierrez, this Tiradentes art museum specializes in images of Saint Anne, with a collection of 291 statues.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei
Also called the São João del Rei Cathedral, this Catholic shrine is a protected heritage site known for colonial-era art, with gold decoration, paintings and statues inside.
Cachoeira da Capivara
In Capitólio, the Ribeirão da Capivara spills over this waterfall on its way into Furnas Lake. A trail of about 900 meters leads to the falls, which drop into a pool roughly 16 meters deep.
More drives to Passos
- Uberaba to Passos
- Mogi Guaçu to Passos
- Limeira to Passos
- Campinas to Passos
- Piracicaba to Passos
- Jundiaí to Passos
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 Passos?
About 9 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 395 miles.
How far is Passos from Petrópolis by car?
About 395 miles (636 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 Passos?
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 Passos?
In order: BR-040, BR-265, BR-494, MG-260, MG-164 and MG-050. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Petrópolis to Passos?
Closest to the road: Museu da Loucura (museum, mile 131, 0.6 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (cathedral, mile 166, 1 mi from the route); Cachoeira da Capivara (waterfall, mile 368, 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.