By road, Rio das Ostras and Pouso Alegre are about 341 miles (548 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 25 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance by road | 341 mi (548 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-162 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-048 → BR-459 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Rio das Ostras–Pouso Alegre drive in a few lines
BR-116 (135 mi) and BR-101 (90 mi) carry about 66% of the 341 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Rio das Ostras to Pouso Alegre
| 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 | 263–339 | 76 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 339–341 | 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)
Where to stop on the way to Pouso Alegre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 101), Museum of Life (mile 103), Itatiaia National Park (mile 206)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 64), Praia do Buraco (mile 87), Itatiaia National Park (mile 206)
- Museums and history: Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 93), Espaço Cultural da Marinha (mile 97), Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição (mile 98), Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 101), Museum of Life (mile 103)
- With kids: Museum of Life (mile 103)
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 de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Also called Museu do Ingá, this history and art museum occupies the Palácio Nilo Peçanha on Rua Presidente Pedreira in Niterói's Ingá area and is linked to the state arts foundation.
Pedra do Índio
On Icaraí beach in Niterói, Pedra do Índio is a rock formation used by local anglers and beachgoers, with views over Guanabara Bay.
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.
Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is a fort located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins
A public federal institution in Rio's São Cristóvão district, the Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins studies and shares the history of science and technology in Brazil.
Museum of Life
The Museum of Life is located at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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.
Arriving in Pouso Alegre
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 Pouso Alegre
- São José dos Campos to Pouso Alegre
- São Paulo to Pouso Alegre
- Itu to Pouso Alegre
- Santos to Pouso Alegre
- São Vicente to Pouso Alegre
- Sorocaba to Pouso Alegre
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 Pouso Alegre?
About 7 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 341 miles.
How far is Pouso Alegre from Rio das Ostras by car?
About 341 miles (548 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 Pouso Alegre?
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 Pouso Alegre?
In order: RJ-162, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SP-048 and BR-459. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio das Ostras and Pouso Alegre?
Closest to the road: Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (museum, mile 101, 0.5 mi from the route); Museum of Life (science museum, mile 103, 0.1 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.