The Wayro route from Rio das Ostras to Passos is 500 miles (805 km), about 11 h 23 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 500 mi (805 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-162 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-048 → BR-459 → MG-179 → BR-491 → MGC-491 → MG-184 → BR-265 → MG-446 → MG-050 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Rio das Ostras to Passos is like
BR-116 (135 mi) and BR-101 (90 mi) carry about 45% of the 500 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Rio das Ostras to Passos, road by road
| 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 | 101–110 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 110–112 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 112–247 | 135 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 247–248 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-048 | 248–263 | 15 | São Paulo |
| BR-459 | 263–341 | 78 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| MG-179 | 341–405 | 64 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 405–416 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| MGC-491 | 416–423 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-184 | 423–459 | 36 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 459–472 | 13 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-446 | 472–483 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 483–498 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 498–500 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 216 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 268 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Rio das Ostras to Passos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 93), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 119), Itatiaia National Park (mile 206)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 206)
- Museums and history: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 93), Palácio do Ingá (mile 93), Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (mile 97), Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 101), Museu da Chácara do Céu (mile 101), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 119), Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (mile 339)
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.
Palácio do Ingá
In Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, the Palácio do Ingá (Palácio Nilo Peçanha) houses the Museu de História e Arte do Rio de Janeiro.
Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro's Presbyterian Cathedral is the historic congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil and was the first Presbyterian church in the country.
Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
The Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro covers the history of the state's prisons and displays contraband seized in prison units, from cell phones to tools used in escape attempts.
Museu da Chácara do Céu
In Rio de Janeiro's Santa Teresa neighborhood, Museu da Chácara do Céu is an art museum that, together with Museu do Açude, makes up the Castro Maya Museums.
Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga
Also known as Nova Iguaçu Cathedral, the Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga stands on Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixoto and is the mother church of the Diocese of Nova Iguaçu.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre
Good Jesus Cathedral is the Catholic seat of the Archdiocese of Pouso Alegre, in the city of the same name in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Passos
- Uberaba to Passos
- Mogi Guaçu to Passos
- Limeira to Passos
- Campinas to Passos
- Piracicaba to Passos
- Jundiaí to Passos
From Rio das Ostras to other places in Brazil
- Rio das Ostras to Itaguaí
- 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
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Rio das Ostras to Passos?
About 11 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 500 miles.
How far is Passos from Rio das Ostras by car?
About 500 miles (805 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 Passos drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Rio das Ostras to Passos?
In order: RJ-162, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SP-048, BR-459, MG-179, BR-491, MGC-491, MG-184, BR-265, MG-446 and MG-050. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio das Ostras and Passos?
Closest to the road: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (cathedral, mile 93, 1 mi from the route); Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 119, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 206, 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.