Rio de Janeiro to Campinas is about 304 road miles (490 km): roughly 6 h 4 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 304 mi (490 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SP-065 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Rio de Janeiro–Campinas drive in a few lines
BR-116 (209 mi) and SP-065 (77 mi) carry about 94% of the 304 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.
Road-by-road breakdown: Rio de Janeiro to Campinas
| 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 | 224–301 | 77 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 301–304 | 3 | São Paulo |
- Mile 120 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Rio de Janeiro and Campinas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Museu Frei Galvão (mile 160), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (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), Museu Frei Galvão (mile 160), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 163), 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.
Museu Frei Galvão
Guaratinguetá's city government and a local association of museum friends jointly maintain the Museu Frei Galvão, a municipal cultural institution in São Paulo state.
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.
Municipal Market of São José dos Campos
Completed in 1923 on the site of an 1896 market, the heritage-listed Municipal Market of São José dos Campos sells cheeses, spices, medicinal herbs, preserves, fish and meat, and is known for pastel with sugarcane juice.
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
Hang gliders and paragliders launch from Pedra Grande, and a trail leads to views over nearby towns. At about 1,400 meters, it's the highest point in Atibaia.
Once you reach Campinas
Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral, Campinas
Campinas Cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception, opened in 1883 and stands on José Bonifácio Square, known locally as Cathedral Square, in the city center.
Museu da Imagem e do Som de Campinas
Housed in the Palácio dos Azulejos in central Campinas, the Museu da Imagem e do Som de Campinas is a public museum that preserves and shares the city's audiovisual memory.
Palácio da Mogiana
Palácio da Mogiana is a historic building in central Campinas that fills roughly half a block, facing Rua Visconde do Rio Branco, Avenida Campos Sales and Rua General Osório.
More drives to Campinas
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 Campinas?
About 6 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 304 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio de Janeiro to Campinas?
About 304 miles (490 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Rio de Janeiro to Campinas drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Rio de Janeiro to Campinas?
In order: BR-116 and SP-065. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio de Janeiro and Campinas?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 110, 0.3 mi from the route); Museu Frei Galvão (museum, mile 160, 0.4 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, 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.