Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena is about 170 road miles (274 km): roughly 3 h 53 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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.”
| Distance | 170 mi (274 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
What the drive from Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena is like
BR-040 (153 mi) carries about 90% of the 170 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 11–140 | 129 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 140–143 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 143–167 | 24 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 167–170 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 87 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Rio de Janeiro and Barbacena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 10)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 29), Petrópolis Municipal Nature Park (mile 42), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 52), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 56)
- Museums and history: Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 39), Imperial Museum of Brazil (mile 42), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 56)
Parque Shanghai
Parque Shanghai is an amusement park in the Penha neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, close to the Church of Our Lady of Penha.
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Casa Stefan Zweig
Founded in 2006, Casa Stefan Zweig is a writer's house museum in Petrópolis, set in the home where Stefan Zweig lived with his wife.
Imperial Museum of Brazil
Housed in the Petrópolis Imperial Palace, the former summer residence of Emperor Pedro II, the Imperial Museum sits in the historic center of Petrópolis; work on the palace began in 1845.
Petrópolis Municipal Nature Park
Petrópolis Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Serra dos Órgãos National Park
Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects the Serra dos Órgãos range between Petrópolis and Teresópolis, where a roughly 28 km traverse climbs past the Castelos do Açu to Pedra do Sino at 2,263 meters.
Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument
The Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument is a municipal natural monument, a protected area in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Arriving in 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
- Niterói to Barbacena
- Pouso Alegre to Barbacena
- Araruama to Barbacena
- Cabo Frio to Barbacena
- Poços de Caldas to Barbacena
- Macaé to Barbacena
From Rio de Janeiro to other places in Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro to Itaguaí
- Rio de Janeiro to Guaratinguetá
- Rio de Janeiro to Pindamonhangaba
- Rio de Janeiro to São José dos Campos
- Rio de Janeiro to Mogi das Cruzes
- Rio de Janeiro to Caraguatatuba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena?
About 3 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 170 miles.
How far is Barbacena from Rio de Janeiro by car?
About 170 miles (274 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 de Janeiro to Barbacena?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena?
Closest to the road: Parque Shanghai (park, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); Taquara Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 29, 3 mi from the route); Casa Stefan Zweig (museum, mile 39, 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.