Plan on about 5 h 39 min of driving for the 280-mile (451 km) trip from Rio de Janeiro to Bragança Paulista, before any 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 280 mi (451 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SP-065 → SP-010 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Rio de Janeiro to Bragança Paulista: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (209 mi) and SP-065 (43 mi) carry about 90% of the 280 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.
Roads you'll take from Rio de Janeiro to Bragança Paulista
| 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 | 15–224 | 209 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-065 | 224–267 | 43 | São Paulo |
| SP-010 | 267–276 | 9 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 276–280 | 4 | São Paulo |
- Mile 120 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Rio de Janeiro and Bragança Paulista
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 163), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 163)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Parque Estadual de Itaberaba (mile 253), Itapetinga State Park (mile 257), Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 263)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 163), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 163), Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos (mile 211), Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 263)
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.
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.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
In 1717, fishermen on the Paraíba do Sul River pulled up an image of Our Lady Aparecida. Today it rests in Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida, a basilica consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1980.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Within the Aparecida basilica complex, the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida) gathers objects from the region, including archaeological pieces and sacred items. It opened in 1956.
Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos
Set inside São José dos Campos' Parque da Cidade, the Museum of Folklore (Museu do Folclore) has explored Brazilian popular culture since 1997 through exhibitions, a specialized library and a toy library.
Parque Estadual de Itaberaba
Created in 2010, Itaberaba State Park (Parque Estadual Itaberaba) protects land in São Paulo state spread across Arujá, Guarulhos, Mairiporã, Nazaré Paulista and Santa Isabel.
Itapetinga State Park
Created in 2010, Itapetinga State Park (Parque Estadual de Itapetinga) protects an area of São Paulo state shared by Atibaia, Bom Jesus dos Perdões, Mairiporã and Nazaré Paulista.
Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande
Topping the Serra do Itapetinga at about 1,400 meters, Pedra Grande is Atibaia's highest point, a protected state natural monument where hang gliders and paragliders launch and a trail leads to views over nearby towns.
More drives to Bragança Paulista
- Limeira to Bragança Paulista
- São Carlos to Bragança Paulista
- Araraquara to Bragança Paulista
- Ribeirão Preto to Bragança Paulista
- Bauru to Bragança Paulista
- Franca to Bragança Paulista
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 does it take to drive from Rio de Janeiro to Bragança Paulista?
About 5 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 280 miles.
How far is Bragança Paulista from Rio de Janeiro by car?
About 280 miles (451 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 Bragança Paulista?
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 Bragança Paulista use?
In order: BR-116, SP-065 and SP-010. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio de Janeiro and Bragança Paulista?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 110, 0.3 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, mile 163, 0.4 mi from the route); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 163, 0.4 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.