Plan on about 2 h 0 min of driving for the 79-mile (127 km) trip from Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul, 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Total distance | 79 mi (127 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 2 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → ERS-240 → ERS-122 → ERS-452 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
How the Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul drive plays out
BR-116 (32 mi) and ERS-452 (17 mi) carry about 62% of the 79 miles. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 4–24 | 20 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-240 | 24–32 | 8 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 32–48 | 16 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-452 | 48–65 | 17 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 65–77 | 12 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 77–79 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
What to see on the way from Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 10), Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 22)
- Museums and history: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 10), Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 22), Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante (mile 22)
Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas
Canoas's history museum and archive keeps photos, newspapers, maps, documents, audiovisual material and objects that tell the story of the city in Rio Grande do Sul.
Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo"
Dedicated to the history of São Leopoldo and German colonization in Rio Grande do Sul, the Museu Histórico Visconde de São Leopoldo keeps a collection of objects, images and documents about the settlers. It is a privately run museum.
Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante
The Casa da Feitoria in São Leopoldo, in the Rio dos Sinos valley, housed a royal hemp-linen farm from 1788 until March 1824 and is also known as the Casa do Imigrante.
Arriving in Caxias do Sul
Municipal Museum of Caxias do Sul
Housed at 586 Visconde de Pelotas Street, the Municipal Museum of Caxias do Sul covers local history, art and ethnography, with a permanent collection, guided visits and temporary exhibitions.
Museu dos Capuchinhos
In Caxias do Sul, the Museu dos Capuchinhos is a history and art museum tied to the Capuchin Order, created because the story of the Capuchin Province of Rio Grande do Sul was being forgotten.
Museu Ambiência Casa de Pedra
Known simply as Casa de Pedra, this history museum in Caxias do Sul opened in 1975 during the centenary of Italian immigration to Rio Grande do Sul and preserves everyday objects of immigrant families.
More drives to Caxias do Sul
From Porto Alegre to other places in Brazil
- Porto Alegre to Bento Gonçalves
- Porto Alegre to Erechim
- Porto Alegre to Chapecó
- Porto Alegre to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Porto Alegre to Ponta Grossa
- Porto Alegre to Paranaguá
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul?
About 2 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 79 miles.
What is the driving distance from Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul?
About 79 miles (127 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 Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul?
In order: BR-116, ERS-240, ERS-122 and ERS-452. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul?
Closest to the road: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (museum, mile 10, 0.2 mi from the route); Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (museum, mile 22, 0.6 mi from the route); Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante (museum, mile 22, 3 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.