Rio de Janeiro to Bauru is about 469 road miles (755 km): roughly 9 h 6 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Total distance | 469 mi (755 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SP-060 → SP-015 → SP-280 → SP-209 → SP-300 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Rio de Janeiro to Bauru
BR-116 (214 mi) and SP-280 (118 mi) carry about 71% of the 469 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Rio de Janeiro to Bauru: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–13 | 13 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 13–15 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 15–229 | 214 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 229–263 | 34 | São Paulo |
| SP-015 | 263–273 | 10 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 273–278 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SP-280 | 278–396 | 118 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 396–397 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-209 | 397–409 | 12 | São Paulo |
| SP-300 | 409–464 | 55 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 464–469 | 5 | São Paulo |
- Mile 120 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Rio de Janeiro and Bauru
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 163), Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral, Guarulhos (mile 258), Museum of Sacred Art of São Paulo (mile 266)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Parque Geológico do Varvito (mile 317)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 163), Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral, Guarulhos (mile 258), Memorial do Corinthians (mile 262), Museum of Sacred Art of São Paulo (mile 266), Prestes Maia Gallery (mile 266), Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo (mile 274)
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
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Opened in 1956, the Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida sits within the basilica complex in Aparecida. Its collection brings together regional objects, among them archaeological finds and religious items.
Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral, Guarulhos
Also called Guarulhos Cathedral, this Catholic church was built in 1665 in the center of Guarulhos, São Paulo state.
Memorial do Corinthians
Also known as Memorial do Parque São Jorge, the Corinthians memorial at the club's headquarters in São Paulo's East Zone covers the team's history and is open to the public.
Museum of Sacred Art of São Paulo
In the left wing of the Luz Monastery, founded in 1774 by Frei Galvão, the Museum of Sacred Art of São Paulo collects and displays Brazilian sacred art.
Prestes Maia Gallery
An underground arts space linking Patriarca Square with Anhangabaú Valley, the Prestes Maia Gallery is where São Paulo's first public escalators opened in 1955.
Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo
Run as a department of the University of São Paulo, this museum of archaeology and ethnology focuses on research, teaching, and sharing cultural and scientific knowledge with the public.
Parque Geológico do Varvito
Glacial lakes about 280 million years ago left behind the layered varvite now visible at this closed quarry in Itu. The site is a protected geological monument, and visitors can walk right past its walls.
In Bauru itself
Bauru Zoo
Bauru Zoo (Parque Zoológico Municipal de Bauru) is a public zoo in São Paulo state known for its work preserving Brazilian wildlife. It opened on August 24, 1980, and covers 50,000 square meters.
Botanical Garden of Bauru
Bauru's municipal botanical garden (Jardim Botânico de Bauru) covers 793 acres, mostly cerrado, with patches of semideciduous seasonal forest and marsh vegetation.
Museu da Imagem e do Som de Bauru
Bauru's Museum of Image and Sound (Museu da Imagem e do Som de Bauru) collects photos, records, recordings, film footage and equipment to preserve and share the city's media history and culture.
More drives to Bauru
- Ribeirão Preto to Bauru
- Uberlândia to Bauru
- Campinas to Bauru
- Jundiaí to Bauru
- São Paulo to Bauru
- Santos to Bauru
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 Bauru?
About 9 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 469 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio de Janeiro to Bauru?
About 469 miles (755 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 Bauru?
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 de Janeiro to Bauru use?
In order: BR-116, SP-060, SP-015, SP-280, SP-209 and SP-300. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Rio de Janeiro to Bauru?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 110, 0.3 mi from the route); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 163, 0.4 mi from the route); Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral, Guarulhos (cathedral, mile 258, 0.6 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.