The Wayro route from Ribeirão Preto to Barbacena is 369 miles (594 km), about 8 h 22 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.”
| Total distance | 369 mi (594 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-334 → SP-351 → MG-050 → MG-164 → MG-260 → BR-494 → BR-381 → BR-265 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Ribeirão Preto to Barbacena drive plays out
MG-050 (151 mi) and BR-494 (65 mi) carry about 59% of the 369 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Ribeirão Preto and Barbacena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-334 | 6–24 | 18 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 24–25 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-351 | 25–55 | 30 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 55–70 | 15 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 70–71 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 71–222 | 151 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-164 | 222–236 | 14 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 236–238 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-260 | 238–252 | 14 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 252–277 | 25 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 277–291 | 14 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 291–331 | 40 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 331–334 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 334–366 | 32 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 366–369 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 58 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Barbacena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Casa de Portinari (mile 18)
- Nature and outdoors: Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 129)
- Museums and history: Museu Casa de Portinari (mile 18), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (mile 333), Museu de Arte Sacra (mile 333), Museu de Sant'Ana (mile 337)
Museu Casa de Portinari
In Brodowski, Candido Portinari's childhood home is now the Museu Casa de Portinari, where the painter often returned to stay with family. Inside are several of his works, mostly murals painted in fresco and tempera.
Cachoeira da Capivara
In Capitólio, the Ribeirão da Capivara spills over this waterfall on its way into Furnas Lake. A trail of about 900 meters leads to the falls, which drop into a pool roughly 16 meters deep.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei
Also called the São João del Rei Cathedral, this Catholic shrine is a protected heritage site known for colonial-era art, with gold decoration, paintings and statues inside.
Museu de Arte Sacra
Inside São João del-Rei's former jail, the Museu de Arte Sacra holds about 450 religious objects, including liturgical vestments and sacred images, from local confraternities and orders.
Museu de Sant'Ana
Founded in 2014 by the Instituto Cultural Flávio Gutierrez, this Tiradentes art museum specializes in images of Saint Anne, with a collection of 291 statues.
When you get to Barbacena
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Barbacena
- Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena
- Niterói to Barbacena
- Pouso Alegre to Barbacena
- Araruama to Barbacena
- Cabo Frio to Barbacena
- Poços de Caldas to Barbacena
From Ribeirão Preto to other places in Brazil
- Ribeirão Preto to Araxá
- Ribeirão Preto to Bauru
- Ribeirão Preto to Limeira
- Ribeirão Preto to Itu
- Ribeirão Preto to Mogi Guaçu
- Ribeirão Preto to Bragança Paulista
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ribeirão Preto to Barbacena?
About 8 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 369 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ribeirão Preto to Barbacena?
About 369 miles (594 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 Ribeirão Preto to Barbacena 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 Ribeirão Preto to Barbacena use?
In order: SP-334, SP-351, MG-050, MG-164, MG-260, BR-494, BR-381 and BR-265. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ribeirão Preto to Barbacena?
Closest to the road: Museu Casa de Portinari (museum, mile 18, 0.4 mi from the route); Cachoeira da Capivara (waterfall, mile 129, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (cathedral, mile 333, 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.