Plan on about 6 h 24 min of driving for the 315-mile (507 km) trip from Rio de Janeiro to Praia Grande, 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.”
| Distance | 315 mi (507 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-070 → SP-021 → SP-160 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Rio de Janeiro to Praia Grande is like
BR-116 (177 mi) and SPI 117/070 (42 mi) carry about 70% of the 315 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Rio de Janeiro to Praia Grande: the road sequence
| 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 | 252–283 | 31 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 283–286 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 286–313 | 27 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 313–315 | 2 | São Paulo |
- Mile 120 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Rio de Janeiro and Praia Grande
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 163), Pedroso Municipal Nature Park (mile 277)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Pedroso Municipal Nature Park (mile 277), Parque Natural Estoril (mile 280), Serra do Mar State Park (mile 296)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 163), Museu Monteiro Lobato (mile 188), Calçada do Lorena (mile 303)
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.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Opened in 1956, the Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida sits within the basilica complex in Aparecida. Its collection brings together regional objects, among them archaeological finds and religious items.
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.
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.
Parque Natural Estoril
In São Bernardo do Campo, Parque Natural Estoril is a conservation area protecting Atlantic Forest, part of the Billings Reservoir and local wildlife across roughly 373,000 square meters.
Serra do Mar State Park
Covering 778,381 acres of the Serra do Mar mountain range in São Paulo state, this state park protects a vast expanse of continuous Atlantic Forest.
Calçada do Lorena
Calçada do Lorena, in the Serra do Mar of São Paulo state, was the first paved road linking São Paulo to Santos, built on the orders of governor Bernardo José Maria de Lorena.
When you get to Praia Grande
Xixová-Japuí State Park
On the Atlantic coast of São Paulo state, Xixová-Japuí State Park protects an isolated stretch of well-preserved Atlantic Forest.
Praia do Canto do Forte (Praia Grande)
At the eastern end of the Praia Grande shoreline in São Paulo state, Praia do Forte sits beside the Fortaleza de Itaipu, the military complex that gives the beach its name.
Itararé Beach
Itararé Beach in São Vicente fronts Santos Bay and runs 2.9 kilometers from Ilha Porchat to Canal 1, crossing into neighboring Santos.
More drives to Praia Grande
- Jundiaí to Praia Grande
- Campinas to Praia Grande
- Piracicaba to Praia Grande
- Ribeirão Preto to Praia Grande
- Bauru to Praia Grande
- Uberlândia to Praia Grande
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 Praia Grande?
About 6 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 315 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio de Janeiro to Praia Grande?
About 315 miles (507 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 Praia Grande?
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 Praia Grande?
In order: BR-116, SPI 117/070, SP-070, SP-021 and SP-160. 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 Praia Grande?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 110, 0.3 mi from the route); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 163, 0.4 mi from the route); Pedroso Municipal Nature Park (municipal nature park, mile 277, 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.