By road, Rio de Janeiro and Itaúnas are about 478 miles (769 km) apart, or roughly 12 h 20 min of driving.
- 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 | 478 mi (769 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → RJ-228 → ES-422 → ES-010 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Rio de Janeiro to Itaúnas is like
BR-101 (395 mi) and RJ-228 (43 mi) carry about 92% of the 478 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Rio de Janeiro to Itaúnas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 11–198 | 187 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-228 | 198–241 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 241–449 | 208 | Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 449–454 | 5 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-422 | 454–465 | 11 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-010 | 465–477 | 12 | Espírito Santo |
| local roads | 477–478 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
- Mile 213 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Rio de Janeiro and Itaúnas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 349), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 450)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Buraco (mile 18), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 245), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 317), Fonte Grande State Park (mile 319)
- Museums and history: Itabira Natural Monument (mile 245), Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 321), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 349), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 450)
Praia do Buraco
About four kilometers from Praia Central in Balneário Camboriú, Praia do Buraco borders Praia do Canto; strong waves make it unsafe for swimming, so it draws mostly fishermen and photographers.
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument protects a small sugarloaf-shaped hill on the shore of the bay south of Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
Fonte Grande State Park
Fonte Grande State Park is a state-protected park in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.
Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras
On Ilha das Caieiras in Vitória, Espírito Santo, this history museum is named for Manoel Passos Lyrio; an expansion begun in 2022 adds a section devoted to local fishermen.
Casa da Cultura de Fundão
Once the Agostini family residence, this two-story house in Fundão is protected as cultural heritage by Espírito Santo state and now works as a museum.
Buddha of Ibiraçu
Beside the BR-101 highway in Ibiraçu, a 35-meter Buddha statue rises at the Morro da Vargem Zen monastery. The giant figure, part of the monastery grounds, was officially inaugurated in August 2021.
St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral in the municipality of São Mateus is a Catholic church regarded as a reference for modern religious art in Brazil.
Once you reach Itaúnas
Itaúnas State Park
In northern Espírito Santo, Itaúnas State Park protects the lower Itaúnas River along with a strip of marshes, dunes and Atlantic beaches.
More drives to Itaúnas
- Serra to Itaúnas
- Cariacica to Itaúnas
- Vitória to Itaúnas
- Vila Velha to Itaúnas
- Guarapari to Itaúnas
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Itaúnas
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 Itaúnas?
About 12 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 478 miles.
How far is Itaúnas from Rio de Janeiro by car?
About 478 miles (769 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 Itaúnas 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 Itaúnas?
In order: BR-101, RJ-228, ES-422 and ES-010. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio de Janeiro and Itaúnas?
Closest to the road: Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 349, 0.2 mi from the route); Buddha of Ibiraçu (statue, mile 355, 2 mi from the route); St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (cathedral, mile 450, 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.