The Wayro route from Rio de Janeiro to Muriaé is 178 miles (287 km), about 4 h 52 min of driving without 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 178 mi (287 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Rio de Janeiro–Muriaé drive in a few lines
BR-116 (62 mi) and BR-040 (54 mi) carry about 65% of the 178 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Rio de Janeiro and Muriaé
| 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, Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 109–114 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-116 | 114–176 | 62 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 176–178 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 108 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Rio de Janeiro to Muriaé
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 10), St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (mile 140), Museu Espaço dos Anjos (mile 140)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 52), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 56)
- Museums and history: Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 39), Imperial Museum of Brazil (mile 42), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 56), St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (mile 140), Museu Espaço dos Anjos (mile 140)
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.
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.
Imperial Museum of Brazil
Housed in the Petrópolis Imperial Palace, the former summer residence of Emperor Pedro II, the Imperial Museum sits in the historic center of Petrópolis; work on the palace began in 1845.
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.
St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina
Seat of the Diocese of Leopoldina, St. Sebastian Cathedral is a Catholic parish church in Leopoldina, Minas Gerais.
Museu Espaço dos Anjos
Leopoldina's Museu Espaço dos Anjos occupies the house where poet Augusto dos Anjos lived, with a covered outdoor space that hosts music, theater and literary gatherings throughout the year.
More drives to Muriaé
- Teresópolis to Muriaé
- Petrópolis to Muriaé
- Niterói to Muriaé
- Barra Mansa to Muriaé
- Itaguaí to Muriaé
- Pindamonhangaba to Muriaé
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 Muriaé?
About 4 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 178 miles.
How far is Muriaé from Rio de Janeiro by car?
About 178 miles (287 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 Muriaé 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 Muriaé use?
In order: BR-040 and BR-116. 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 Muriaé?
Closest to the road: Parque Shanghai (park, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); St. Sebastian Cathedral, Leopoldina (cathedral, mile 140, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Espaço dos Anjos (museum, mile 140, 0.5 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.