By road, Poços de Caldas and Itabira are about 351 miles (565 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 39 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Total distance | 351 mi (565 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-146 → BR-267 → MG-453 → BR-491 → BR-381 → BR-040 → MG-434 → MG-129 → AMG-1210 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Poços de Caldas–Itabira drive in a few lines
BR-381 (208 mi) and BR-267 (37 mi) carry about 70% of the 351 miles. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Poços de Caldas to Itabira: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 5–6 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-146 | 6–14 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-267 | 14–51 | 37 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 51–53 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-453 | 53–70 | 17 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 70–107 | 37 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 107–279 | 172 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 279–281 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 281–289 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 289–291 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 291–327 | 36 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 327–328 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-434 | 328–340 | 12 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-129 | 340–343 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1210 | 343–349 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 349–351 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
What to see on the way from Poços de Caldas to Itabira
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 283)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Rola-Moça State Park (mile 278), Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 283)
- Museums and history: Museu Municipal de Varginha (mile 94), Nair Mendes Moreira House of Culture (mile 275), Casa de Cacos (mile 276), Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 283), Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha (mile 286), Museu da Força Expedicionária Brasileira (mile 287)
- With kids: Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (mile 283)
Museu Municipal de Varginha
Varginha's municipal museum occupies a building put up in 1920 as the local Banco do Brasil office, in what was then the town's commercial heart.
Nair Mendes Moreira House of Culture
Known locally as Casa do Registro, the Casa da Cultura Nair Mendes Moreira is an 18th-century house in Contagem. Local tradition links it to a Portuguese Crown post that counted goods and checked tax payments.
Casa de Cacos
Casa de Cacos in Contagem is a museum and an example of fantastic architecture, built and decorated entirely by geologist Carlos Luís de Almeida and considered the only one of its kind in Brazil.
Serra do Rola-Moça State Park
On the edge of metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Serra do Rola-Moça State Park protects rugged ridges of the Espinhaço range where cerrado savanna meets Atlantic Forest.
Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais
On the PUC Minas campus in Belo Horizonte, this natural sciences museum shows Brazilian fauna, largely from the cerrado, alongside fossil South American mammals and an 'Age of Reptiles' hall with dinosaurs, pterosaurs and a large crocodile.
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in an organic modern style, the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a chapel in the Pampulha area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
Museu da Força Expedicionária Brasileira
In Belo Horizonte, the Museu da Força Expedicionária Brasileira covers Brazil's role in World War II, with a focus on soldiers from Minas Gerais sent to Italy, including the taking of Montese.
When you get to Itabira
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Itabira
Known locally as Itabira Cathedral, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the municipality of Itabira, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Itabira
- Sete Lagoas to Itabira
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Itabira
- Barbacena to Itabira
- Juiz de Fora to Itabira
- Araxá to Itabira
- Petrópolis to Itabira
From Poços de Caldas to other places in Brazil
- Poços de Caldas to Tatuí
- Poços de Caldas to Paranapiacaba
- Poços de Caldas to Itapetininga
- Poços de Caldas to Cubatão
- Poços de Caldas to Fumaça
- Poços de Caldas to Itanhaém
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Poços de Caldas to Itabira?
About 8 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 351 miles.
How far is Itabira from Poços de Caldas by car?
About 351 miles (565 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 Poços de Caldas to Itabira?
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 Poços de Caldas to Itabira use?
In order: BR-146, BR-267, MG-453, BR-491, BR-381, BR-040, MG-434, MG-129 and AMG-1210. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Poços de Caldas to Itabira?
Closest to the road: Museu Municipal de Varginha (museum, mile 94, 2 mi from the route); Casa de Cacos (museum, mile 276, 2 mi from the route); Natural Sciences Museum of the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (museum, mile 283, 0.6 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.