Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay

By admin, 13 October, 2026

Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay is about 521 road miles (838 km): roughly 10 h 59 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Brazil into Paraguay at about mile 520.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Brazil — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution; Paraguay — Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions
  • Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
  • Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution in Paraguay: Departments of Alto Paraná, Amambay, Canindeyú, Concepcion, and San Pedro.
  • Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).

This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Brazil, Paraguay. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Paraguay August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.

On the roads, the State Department says:

  • Brazil: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
  • Paraguay: “Traffic laws are often not enforced, and other drivers may ignore stop signs, traffic lights, and speed limits.”
Cathedral of MaringáCapela Santa CruzOur Lady of Fatima Cathedral, NaviraíBrazil–Paraguay borderPonta GrossaPedro Juan Caballero
Route from Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero with the 3 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate Brazil–Paraguay border crossing (red square).
Distance521 mi (838 km)
Driving time, no stops10 h 59 min
Main roads, in orderBR-376 → PR-897 → PR-323 → PR-489 → PR-182 → PR-485 → BR-487 → BR-163 → MS-156 → MS-380 → BR-463
Border crossingabout mile 520, Brazil → Paraguay
Regions on the routeParaná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Amambay
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 20.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below3

Border crossing: what to bring for Paraguay

The route crosses at about mile 520, from Mato Grosso do Sul into Amambay. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.

Entering Paraguay (U.S. citizens)No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date.
Driving in ParaguayYou need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit.
Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens)Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp.
Driving in BrazilIf you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license.
The car, entering ParaguayThe State Department notes that Paraguay doesn't require vehicle insurance.
Rental carCross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book.

Sources: U.S. State Department, Paraguay (updated September 17, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.

Driving Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero: the shape of the trip

BR-376 (167 mi) and PR-323 (96 mi) carry about 50% of the 521 miles. The first 520 miles are in Brazil; the last 1 are in Paraguay. It runs through 3 regions: Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Amambay. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.

Roads you'll take from Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miRegion
local roads0–99Paraná
BR-3769–176167Paraná
PR-897176–18913Paraná
local roads189–1967Paraná
connecting roads196–1971Paraná
PR-323197–29396Paraná
connecting roads293–2941Paraná
PR-489294–30612Paraná
PR-182306–3148Paraná
PR-485314–3184Paraná
local roads318–33113Paraná
PR-485331–3354Paraná
PR-489335–34510Paraná
BR-487345–37833Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul
BR-163378–44264Mato Grosso do Sul
connecting roads442–4453Mato Grosso do Sul
MS-156445–46217Mato Grosso do Sul
MS-380462–49735Mato Grosso do Sul
BR-463497–51821Mato Grosso do Sul
local roads518–5213Mato Grosso do Sul, Amambay
  • Mile 349 of this route: Paraná → Mato Grosso do Sul (region line)
  • Mile 520 of this route: Mato Grosso do Sul → Amambay (international border)

What to see on the way from Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero

Cathedral of Maringá

Mile 194 · Basilica · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Rising 124 meters with its cross, Maringá's cone-shaped cathedral was built between 1959 and 1972 in a design inspired by the Sputnik satellite era; an elevator now carries visitors to a lookout near the top.

Capela Santa Cruz

Mile 195 · Church · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Capela Santa Cruz is a church in Maringá, Paraná, and one of the oldest examples of the city's religious architecture.

Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Naviraí

Mile 392 · Cathedral · 2 mi from the route

Seat of the Diocese of Naviraí since 2011, Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Naviraí, Mato Grosso do Sul.

More drives to Pedro Juan Caballero

More drives from Ponta Grossa

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay?

About 10 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 521 miles.

What is the driving distance from Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay?

About 521 miles (838 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.

Where does the Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero drive cross the border?

At about mile 520, from Brazil into Paraguay.

What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Ponta Grossa into Paraguay?

No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. (U.S. State Department, updated September 17, 2026.)

What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero drive?

The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Paraguay Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.

What roads does the drive from Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero use?

In order: BR-376, PR-897, PR-323, PR-489, PR-182, PR-485, BR-487, BR-163, MS-156, MS-380 and BR-463. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.

Where can you stop on the way from Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero?

Closest to the road: Cathedral of Maringá (basilica, mile 194, 2 mi from the route); Capela Santa Cruz (church, mile 195, 2 mi from the route); Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Naviraí (cathedral, mile 392, 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.