Plan on about 5 h 56 min of driving for the 292-mile (470 km) trip from Rio de Janeiro to Paranapiacaba, 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 292 mi (470 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-070 → SP-021 → SP-122 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Rio de Janeiro to Paranapiacaba: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (177 mi) and SPI 117/070 (42 mi) carry about 75% of the 292 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Rio de Janeiro and Paranapiacaba
| 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 | 193–235 | 42 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 235–250 | 15 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 250–252 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 252–274 | 22 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 274–276 | 2 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 276–282 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-122 | 282–292 | 10 | São Paulo |
- Mile 120 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Rio de Janeiro and Paranapiacaba
- 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), Museu Barão de Mauá (mile 278)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Pedroso Municipal Nature Park (mile 275)
- 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), Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani" (mile 192), Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 224), Museu Barão de Mauá (mile 278)
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
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.
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
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 da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani"
In Quiririm, a district of Taubaté, the Italian Immigration Museum fills the brick Casa Indiani, built between 1897 and 1903 by a family from Cremona, with photos, furniture, machinery and a period classroom recalling immigrant life.
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.
Pedroso Municipal Nature Park
Santo André's Pedroso Municipal Nature Park (Parque do Pedroso) is a strictly protected conservation unit that holds important water sources and a fragment of Atlantic Forest.
Museu Barão de Mauá
Mauá's history museum keeps photographs, objects and documents on the city's past and serves as its main center for historical research.
In Paranapiacaba itself
Museu Tecnológico Ferroviário do Funicular
In the village of Paranapiacaba, high in the Serra do Mar, this railway museum fills sheds that once served as workshops for the funicular trains running between Raiz da Serra in Cubatão and the plateau.
Casa Fox
Casa Fox is a museum at Paranapiacaba made of two restored, semi-detached workers' houses that share the personal and collective memories of local residents. It is named after Daniel M. Fox.
More drives to Paranapiacaba
- São Paulo to Paranapiacaba
- Jundiaí to Paranapiacaba
- Bragança Paulista to Paranapiacaba
- Campinas to Paranapiacaba
- Itu to Paranapiacaba
- Limeira to Paranapiacaba
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 Paranapiacaba?
About 5 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 292 miles.
How far is Paranapiacaba from Rio de Janeiro by car?
About 292 miles (470 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 Paranapiacaba 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 Paranapiacaba use?
In order: BR-116, SPI 117/070, SP-070, SP-021 and SP-122. 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 Paranapiacaba?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 110, 0.3 mi from the route); Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (museum, mile 160, 0.5 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.