The Wayro route from Porto Alegre to Lages is 220 miles (354 km), about 6 h 2 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance by road | 220 mi (354 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → ERS-240 → ERS-122 → RSC-453 → BR-453 → VRS-815 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Porto Alegre to Lages: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (100 mi) and ERS-122 (36 mi) carry about 62% of the 220 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Porto Alegre to Lages
| 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 | 32–68 | 36 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 68–73 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 73–91 | 18 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-453 | 91–98 | 7 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 98–112 | 14 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| VRS-815 | 112–116 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 116–134 | 18 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 134–214 | 80 | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| local roads | 214–220 | 6 | Santa Catarina |
- Mile 179 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Santa Catarina (state line)
What to see on the way from Porto Alegre to Lages
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 10), Salto Ventoso (mile 62), Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 72)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Ventoso (mile 62)
- Museums and history: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 10), Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante (mile 22), Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 72), Museu Ambiência Casa de Pedra (mile 81), Museu dos Capuchinhos (mile 81), National Monument to the Immigrant (mile 86)
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.
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.
Salto Ventoso
Salto Ventoso is a waterfall in Farroupilha, Brazil, and a tourist attraction of regional importance.
Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp
A few kilometers from central Caxias do Sul, in the Forqueta district, the Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp is a history museum themed on grapes and wine.
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.
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.
National Monument to the Immigrant
Standing at the entrance to Caxias do Sul on BR-116, the National Monument to the Immigrant is listed by Brazil's national heritage institute (IPHAN).
When you get to Lages
Memorial Nereu Ramos
On Rua Frei Rogério in Lages, Memorial Nereu Ramos is a biographical museum honoring Nereu Ramos, the only Santa Catarina native to serve as president of Brazil.
More drives to Lages
- Itajaí to Lages
- São Leopoldo to Lages
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Lages
- Sorocaba to Lages
- Praia Grande to Lages
- São Vicente to Lages
From Porto Alegre to other places in Brazil
- Porto Alegre to Bento Gonçalves
- Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul
- Porto Alegre to Erechim
- Porto Alegre to Chapecó
- Porto Alegre to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Porto Alegre to Ponta Grossa
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Porto Alegre to Lages?
About 6 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 220 miles.
What is the driving distance from Porto Alegre to Lages?
About 220 miles (354 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 Lages?
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 Lages?
In order: BR-116, ERS-240, ERS-122, RSC-453, BR-453 and VRS-815. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Porto Alegre and Lages?
Closest to the road: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (museum, mile 10, 0.2 mi from the route); Salto Ventoso (waterfall, mile 62, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (museum, mile 72, 0.2 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.