Rio de Janeiro to Itu is about 326 road miles (524 km): roughly 6 h 30 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Total distance | 326 mi (524 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SP-060 → SP-015 → SP-280 → SP-075 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Rio de Janeiro to Itu drive plays out
BR-116 (214 mi) and SP-280 (36 mi) carry about 77% of the 326 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Rio de Janeiro to Itu, road by road
| 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 | 278–314 | 36 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 314–315 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-075 | 315–323 | 8 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 323–326 | 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 Itu
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 163), Sítio Morrinhos (mile 267)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 110)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 163), Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos (mile 211), Immigration Museum of the State of São Paulo (mile 263), Sítio Morrinhos (mile 267), Museum of Art of the Parliament of Itapevi (mile 287)
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
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Construction of the current basilica at Aparecida started in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980. As Brazil's National Shrine, it keeps the image of Our Lady Aparecida found by fishermen in 1717.
Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos
Exhibitions, a specialized library and a toy library make up the Museum of Folklore, which has focused on Brazilian popular culture since 1997 from its home in São José dos Campos' Parque da Cidade.
Immigration Museum of the State of São Paulo
Set in the Immigrant Inn building, opened in 1887 in São Paulo's Mooca neighborhood, the Immigration Museum of the State of São Paulo tells the story of immigration.
Municipal Theater of Mooca Arthur Azevedo
Designed by architect Roberto Tibau and opened in 1952, the Arthur Azevedo Theater in São Paulo's Mooca district was listed by the city in 1992 as a significant example of 1950s architecture.
Teatro São Pedro
Teatro São Pedro in São Paulo was created by the Portuguese Manuel Fernandes Lopes and opened on January 20, 1917, with performances of A Moreninha and O Escravo de Lúcifer.
Sítio Morrinhos
Also known as Chácara de São Bento, Sítio Morrinhos is an architectural complex with an 18th-century main house and annexes from the 19th and 20th centuries, part of the Museum of the City of São Paulo's Historic Houses.
Museum of Art of the Parliament of Itapevi
Named for Emanuel von Lauenstein Massarani, this contemporary art museum is housed in the Itapevi city council building, in the northeast part of the city.
In Itu itself
Museu Republicano "Convencão de Itú"
Set in a townhouse in Itu where opponents of Brazil's monarchy met in 1873, the Republican Museum focuses on the period of the Old Republic.
FAMA Museu
Formerly the Museu São Pedro, FAMA Museu is a private museum open to the public in central Itu that holds the art collection of artist and collector Marcos Amaro.
Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus
Also known as the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, this church in Itu stands where the small chapel that marked the town's founding was built in 1610 by Domingos Fernandes and his son-in-law Cristóvão Dinis.
More drives to Itu
- Araraquara to Itu
- Ribeirão Preto to Itu
- Bragança Paulista to Itu
- São Paulo to Itu
- São Vicente to Itu
- Santos to Itu
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 Itu?
About 6 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 326 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio de Janeiro to Itu?
About 326 miles (524 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 Itu?
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 Itu use?
In order: BR-116, SP-060, SP-015, SP-280 and SP-075. 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 Itu?
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); Sítio Morrinhos (museum, mile 267, 0.7 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.