Plan on about 11 h 34 min of driving for the 544-mile (875 km) trip from Rio de Janeiro to Paranaguá, 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Total distance | 544 mi (875 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SP-060 → SP-015 → SP-021 → SP-230 → PR-410 → PR-411 → PR-408 → BR-277 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Rio de Janeiro to Paranaguá
BR-116 (214 mi) and SP-230 (209 mi) carry about 78% of the 544 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Rio de Janeiro to Paranaguá
| 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 | 273–279 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 279–288 | 9 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 288–289 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-230 | 289–498 | 209 | São Paulo, Paraná |
| PR-410 | 498–510 | 12 | Paraná |
| PR-411 | 510–519 | 9 | Paraná |
| PR-408 | 519–523 | 4 | Paraná |
| connecting roads | 523–524 | 1 | Paraná |
| BR-277 | 524–544 | 20 | Paraná |
- Mile 120 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 462 of this route: São Paulo → Paraná (state line)
Places worth a stop between Rio de Janeiro and Paranaguá
- 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)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Campina do Encantado State Park (mile 395), Rio Turvo State Park (mile 432), Roberto Ribas Lange State Park (mile 506)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 163), Museu Monteiro Lobato (mile 188), Sexual Diversity Museum (mile 267), Casa Guilherme de Almeida (mile 268)
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
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida houses the image of Our Lady Aparecida that fishermen pulled from the Paraíba do Sul River in 1717. Work on the current basilica began in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980.
Museu Monteiro Lobato
Taubaté's tribute to children's author Monteiro Lobato dates to 1958. The museum occupies the grounds known as the Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, with a historic main house and exhibitions.
Sexual Diversity Museum
Created in 2012 by the São Paulo state culture secretariat, the Museum of Sexual Diversity promotes LGBT culture in Brazil through temporary and traveling exhibitions.
Casa Guilherme de Almeida
Casa Guilherme de Almeida is a biographical and literary museum in São Paulo, founded in 1979 and run as a public museum under the São Paulo State Secretariat of Culture.
Campina do Encantado State Park
A peat bog and a stretch of wetland forest are protected in Campina do Encantado State Park, in Pariquera-Açu, São Paulo state. The ecosystem is described as unique and of great scientific interest.
Rio Turvo State Park
Roughly 73,900 hectares of Atlantic Forest fall within Rio Turvo State Park, which reaches into Cajati, Barra do Turvo and Jacupiranga. It has trails, a waterfall, a cave and Morro do Guaraú.
Roberto Ribas Lange State Park
Created in 1994 near Antonina and Morretes on the Paraná coast, Roberto Ribas Lange State Park protects Atlantic Forest on the steep slopes of the Serra do Mar. Hundreds of bird species have been recorded in its dense rainforest.
More drives to Paranaguá
- Curitiba to Paranaguá
- Ponta Grossa to Paranaguá
- Guarapuava to Paranaguá
- Mogi das Cruzes to Paranaguá
- Campinas to Paranaguá
- Bragança Paulista to Paranaguá
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 Paranaguá?
About 11 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 544 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio de Janeiro to Paranaguá?
About 544 miles (875 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 Paranaguá 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 Paranaguá?
In order: BR-116, SP-060, SP-015, SP-021, SP-230, PR-410, PR-411, PR-408 and BR-277. 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 Paranaguá?
Closest to the road: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 23, 0.9 mi from the route); 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). 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.