By road, Rio das Ostras and Itaguaí are about 142 miles (229 km) apart, or roughly 3 h 21 min of driving.
- 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 142 mi (229 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-162 → BR-101 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Rio das Ostras–Itaguaí drive in a few lines
BR-101 (114 mi) and BR-040 (16 mi) carry about 92% of the 142 miles. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Rio das Ostras to Itaguaí: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | |
| RJ-162 | 2–11 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 11–101 | 90 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 101–117 | 16 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 117–141 | 24 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 141–142 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
Breaking up the drive: stops between Rio das Ostras and Itaguaí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 93)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 64), Praia do Buraco (mile 87), Reserva Florestal do Grajaú (mile 102), Pedra Branca State Park (mile 123)
- Museums and history: Museu Antônio Parreiras (mile 93), Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 93), Museu Aeroespacial (mile 116)
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.
Praia do Buraco
About four kilometers from Praia Central in Balneário Camboriú, Praia do Buraco borders Praia do Canto; strong waves make it unsafe for swimming, so it draws mostly fishermen and photographers.
Museu Antônio Parreiras
In Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, on Rua Tiradentes, the Museu Antônio Parreiras is devoted to preserving the memory and work of Brazilian painter Antônio Parreiras.
Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói
Built in a late colonial style, the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Niterói Cathedral) is the Catholic cathedral of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro state.
Theatro Municipal
Built in the early 20th century, the Theatro Municipal is an opera house in Rio de Janeiro's Centro district, regarded as one of Brazil's notable theaters.
Reserva Florestal do Grajaú
Part of the Tijuca forest, Reserva Florestal do Grajaú is a 136-acre park in Rio's Grajaú neighborhood that covers a slope of the Serra dos Três Rios up to Tijuca National Park.
Museu Aeroespacial
Museu Aeroespacial is a national aviation museum in Realengo, on Rio de Janeiro's West Side, a place known as the cradle of Brazilian aviation.
Pedra Branca State Park
In the state of Rio de Janeiro, Pedra Branca State Park ranks among the world's largest urban nature parks.
More drives to Itaguaí
- São José dos Campos to Itaguaí
- Jacareí to Itaguaí
- Jundiaí to Itaguaí
- Santos to Itaguaí
- São Vicente to Itaguaí
- Praia Grande to Itaguaí
From Rio das Ostras to other places in Brazil
- Rio das Ostras to Barra do Piraí
- Rio das Ostras to Resende
- Rio das Ostras to Penedo
- Rio das Ostras to Fumaça
- Rio das Ostras to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Rio das Ostras to Guaratinguetá
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rio das Ostras to Itaguaí?
About 3 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 142 miles.
How far is Itaguaí from Rio das Ostras by car?
About 142 miles (229 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 Rio das Ostras to Itaguaí 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 Rio das Ostras to Itaguaí use?
In order: RJ-162, BR-101 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio das Ostras and Itaguaí?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 64, 1 mi from the route); Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (cathedral, mile 93, 1 mi from the route); Museu Antônio Parreiras (museum, mile 93, 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.