The Wayro route from Praia Grande to São Carlos is 191 miles (308 km), about 3 h 51 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 | 191 mi (308 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-160 → SP-015 → SP-348 → SPA-102/330 → SP-330 → SP-310 |
| States on the route | São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Praia Grande–São Carlos drive in a few lines
SP-348 (50 mi) and SP-310 (47 mi) carry about 51% of the 191 miles. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Praia Grande to São Carlos
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 2–40 | 38 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 40–46 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-015 | 46–53 | 7 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 53–55 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-348 | 55–105 | 50 | São Paulo |
| SPA-102/330 | 105–109 | 4 | São Paulo |
| SP-330 | 109–141 | 32 | São Paulo |
| SP-310 | 141–188 | 47 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 188–191 | 3 | São Paulo |
Where to stop on the way to São Carlos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): São Paulo Zoo (mile 39), Museu de Ciências da Universidade de São Paulo (mile 39), Instituto Tomie Ohtake (mile 48), Parque Estadual da Assessoria de Referência Agrária (ARA) (mile 98)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estadual da Assessoria de Referência Agrária (ARA) (mile 98)
- Museums and history: Pinacoteca de São Bernardo do Campo (mile 35), Museu de Ciências da Universidade de São Paulo (mile 39), Museum of Fine Arts of São Paulo (mile 43), Instituto Tomie Ohtake (mile 48), Museu de Minerais e Rochas Heinz Ebert (mile 155)
- With kids: São Paulo Zoo (mile 39)
Pinacoteca de São Bernardo do Campo
This municipal art gallery in São Bernardo do Campo studies and shows modern and contemporary art, with works by Tomie Ohtake, Waldomiro de Deus and Wesley Duke Lee in its collection.
São Paulo Zoo
Set in São Paulo's South Zone on 824,529 square meters of former Atlantic Forest, the São Paulo Zoo contains the spring of the Ipiranga Brook and about four kilometers of pathways.
Museu de Ciências da Universidade de São Paulo
The University of São Paulo's Science Museum, created in 2005, brings the exact, human and natural sciences, technology and the arts to the public beyond the campus.
Museum of Fine Arts of São Paulo
A university museum in the Vila Mariana neighborhood of São Paulo, the Museum of Fine Arts of São Paulo opened in September 2007.
Teatro Paulo Eiró
Teatro Paulo Eiró is a public theater in Santo Amaro, south São Paulo, with 467 seats, presenting music, dance and theater, and home to the Santo Amaro Philharmonic Orchestra.
Gazeta Theatre
Located at the Cásper Líbero Foundation in São Paulo, Teatro Gazeta opened in 1966 as the Cine Gazeta.
Instituto Tomie Ohtake
Opened in November 2001, the Instituto Tomie Ohtake occupies a building designed by architect Ruy Ohtake, Tomie's son; his brother Ricardo Ohtake founded the institute.
Parque Estadual da Assessoria de Referência Agrária (ARA)
The ARA State Park (Parque Estadual da ARA) in Valinhos, São Paulo state, covers about 65 acres and protects a small remnant of seasonal semideciduous forest.
Museu de Minerais e Rochas Heinz Ebert
The Heinz Ebert Museum of Minerals and Rocks is located on the Unesp campus in Rio Claro, in São Paulo state, inside the Department of Petrology and Metallogeny building.
In São Carlos itself
Museum of Science Professor Mario Tolentino
Opened by the city of São Carlos in 2012, this science museum offers interactive exhibits and experiments in science, technology and art, named for professor and historian Mario Tolentino.
Museu Histórico e Pedagógico Cerqueira César
Now called Museu de São Carlos, this museum opened in 1957 and holds over 7,000 items about the city, including a replica of a carriage like Dom Pedro II's from his 1886 visit.
Memorial Casa Ronald Golias
Opened in March 2016 in São Carlos, this memorial preserves the legacy of Ronald Golias, the nationally known comedian born in the city on May 4, 1929.
More drives to São Carlos
- Jundiaí to São Carlos
- São Paulo to São Carlos
- São Vicente to São Carlos
- Santos to São Carlos
- Mogi das Cruzes to São Carlos
- Taubaté to São Carlos
From Praia Grande to other places in Brazil
- Praia Grande to Paranapiacaba
- Praia Grande to Bragança Paulista
- Praia Grande to Itu
- Praia Grande to Limeira
- Praia Grande to Mogi Guaçu
- Praia Grande to Botucatu
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Praia Grande to São Carlos?
About 3 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 191 miles.
How far is São Carlos from Praia Grande by car?
About 191 miles (308 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Praia Grande to São Carlos drive?
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 Praia Grande to São Carlos use?
In order: SP-160, SP-015, SP-348, SPA-102/330, SP-330 and SP-310. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Praia Grande and São Carlos?
Closest to the road: Museu de Ciências da Universidade de São Paulo (museum, mile 39, 0.6 mi from the route); São Paulo Zoo (zoo, mile 39, 0.7 mi from the route); Instituto Tomie Ohtake (museum, mile 48, 0.7 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.