Plan on about 5 h 8 min of driving for the 250-mile (402 km) trip from Rio de Janeiro to Mogi das Cruzes, 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.”
| Total distance | 250 mi (402 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-066 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Rio de Janeiro to Mogi das Cruzes drive plays out
BR-116 (177 mi) and SPI 117/070 (37 mi) carry about 86% of the 250 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Rio de Janeiro and Mogi das Cruzes
| 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 | 15–192 | 177 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 192–193 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SPI 117/070 | 193–230 | 37 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 230–232 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-066 | 232–249 | 17 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 249–250 | 1 | São Paulo |
- Mile 120 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
What to see on the way from Rio de Janeiro to Mogi das Cruzes
- 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 Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 160), 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)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 160), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 163), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 163), Museu Mazzaropi (mile 187), Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 224)
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 Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
Guaratinguetá's history museum honors Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906, who lived in the town. São Paulo state created it in 1956 along with museums for other presidents born in the state.
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.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Archaeological pieces and sacred objects from the region fill the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum, within the Aparecida basilica complex. The museum opened in 1956.
Museu Mazzaropi
More than 20,000 items, from photos and furniture to film props and equipment, tell the story of Amácio Mazzaropi at this Taubaté museum, set on the grounds of the comedian's former studio.
Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley
Ceramic vessels and stone tools are among the archaeological finds at the Museu de Antropologia do Vale do Paraíba in Jacareí, which also displays sacred art, folk art and paintings.
Once you reach Mogi das Cruzes
St. Ann Cathedral, Mogi das Cruzes
Mogi das Cruzes Cathedral, dedicated to St. Ann, stands where the town's first chapel was built and became the seat of the Diocese of Mogi das Cruzes, created in 1962 by Pope John XXIII.
Museu Histórico e Pedagógico Visconde de Mauá
The Museu Histórico e Pedagógico Visconde de Mauá in Mogi das Cruzes was founded on November 19, 1958, as part of São Paulo state's network of historical and teaching museums.
Pinacoteca de Mogi das Cruzes
Opened on September 24, 2016, the Pinacoteca de Mogi das Cruzes is an art museum showing visual art by artists from Mogi das Cruzes and invited guests.
More drives to Mogi das Cruzes
- Campinas to Mogi das Cruzes
- Ribeirão Preto to Mogi das Cruzes
- Uberlândia to Mogi das Cruzes
- Sorocaba to Mogi das Cruzes
- Niterói to Mogi das Cruzes
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Mogi das Cruzes
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 Caraguatatuba
- Rio de Janeiro to Bragança Paulista
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rio de Janeiro to Mogi das Cruzes?
About 5 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 250 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio de Janeiro to Mogi das Cruzes?
About 250 miles (402 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 Mogi das Cruzes drive?
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 Mogi das Cruzes use?
In order: BR-116, SPI 117/070 and SP-066. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio de Janeiro and Mogi das Cruzes?
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.