Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna is about 193 road miles (311 km): roughly 5 h 17 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Total distance | 193 mi (311 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → CMG-393 → RJ-186 → RJ-198 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna
BR-040 (54 mi) and RJ-186 (44 mi) carry about 51% of the 193 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 Itaperuna
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 11–65 | 54 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 65–66 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 66–109 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 109–111 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| CMG-393 | 111–139 | 28 | Minas Gerais |
| RJ-186 | 139–183 | 44 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-198 | 183–192 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 192–193 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 111 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
- Mile 145 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
What to see on the way from Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 10)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 29), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 52), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 56)
- Museums and history: Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 39), Cathedral of Petrópolis (mile 42), Santos Dumont House Museum (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.
Cathedral of Petrópolis
Dedicated to the city's patron, Saint Peter of Alcantara, the Cathedral of Petrópolis is the final resting place of Dom Pedro II, Brazil's last emperor, and his family.
Santos Dumont House Museum
Known as A Encantada, the Santos Dumont House Museum in Petrópolis is the house built in 1918 for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont on a steep hillside near the city center.
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.
More drives to Itaperuna
- Niterói to Itaperuna
- Barra Mansa to Itaperuna
- Itaguaí to Itaperuna
- Pindamonhangaba to Itaperuna
- São José dos Campos to Itaperuna
- Jacareí to Itaperuna
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 Itaperuna?
About 5 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 193 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna?
About 193 miles (311 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 Itaperuna?
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 Itaperuna use?
In order: BR-040, CMG-393, RJ-186 and RJ-198. 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 Itaperuna?
Closest to the road: Parque Shanghai (park, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); Casa Stefan Zweig (museum, mile 39, 2 mi from the route); Santos Dumont House Museum (museum, mile 42, 3 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.