By road, Rio das Ostras and Penedo are about 205 miles (330 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 39 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 205 mi (330 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-162 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Rio das Ostras to Penedo is like
BR-101 (90 mi) and BR-116 (89 mi) carry about 87% of the 205 miles. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Rio das Ostras and Penedo
| 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 | 112–201 | 89 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 201–205 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
Places worth a stop between Rio das Ostras and Penedo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 119)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 64), Praia do Buraco (mile 87), Tijuca National Park (mile 101)
- Museums and history: Museu Antônio Parreiras (mile 93), Espaço Cultural da Marinha (mile 97), Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (mile 101), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 119)
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.
Convento do Carmo
Convento do Carmo in Rio de Janeiro stands near Praça XV in the city center; the present convent is on Rua Morais e Vale.
Espaço Cultural da Marinha
Overseen by the Brazilian Navy, the Espaço Cultural da Marinha is a cultural center on Rio de Janeiro's Orla Conde, between Largo da Candelária and Praça XV, with about 1,100 square meters of exhibits.
Tijuca National Park
Covering mountains inside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is an urban national park within the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos
Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos is a Catholic basilica and sanctuary on Rua Haddock Lobo, in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
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.
Arriving in Penedo
Rio Pombo Nature Park
Formerly the Serrinha do Alambari Municipal Park, Rio Pombo Nature Park is a municipal nature park in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
More drives to Penedo
- Pindamonhangaba to Penedo
- Taubaté to Penedo
- São José dos Campos to Penedo
- Jacareí to Penedo
- Mogi das Cruzes to Penedo
- Caraguatatuba to Penedo
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 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 Penedo?
About 4 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 205 miles.
How far is Penedo from Rio das Ostras by car?
About 205 miles (330 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 Rio das Ostras to Penedo?
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 Penedo use?
In order: RJ-162, BR-101, BR-040 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Rio das Ostras to Penedo?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 64, 1 mi from the route); Espaço Cultural da Marinha (museum, mile 97, 2 mi from the route); Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 119, 1 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.