Plan on about 10 h 15 min of driving for the 521-mile (838 km) trip from Rio de Janeiro to São José do Rio Preto, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance | 521 mi (838 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SP-065 → SP-330 → SP-310 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Rio de Janeiro to São José do Rio Preto: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (209 mi) and SP-310 (176 mi) carry about 74% of the 521 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Rio de Janeiro to São José do Rio Preto
| 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 | 15–224 | 209 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-065 | 224–311 | 87 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 311–312 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-330 | 312–342 | 30 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 342–343 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-310 | 343–519 | 176 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 519–521 | 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 São José do Rio Preto
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Museu Frei Galvão (mile 160)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 263)
- Museums and history: Museu Frei Galvão (mile 160), Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro (mile 211), Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 263), Memorial Casa Ronald Golias (mile 393), Casa da Cultura Luís Antonio Martinez Corrêa (mile 418)
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.
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 Frei Galvão
The Museu Frei Galvão is a municipal cultural institution in Guaratinguetá, in São Paulo state, maintained jointly by the city government and a local association of the museum's friends.
Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro
Located within the DCTA aerospace complex, the Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro tells the story of Brazilian aerospace through aircraft, a rocket, engines, simulators and pieces of satellites.
Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande
Pedra Grande, a protected state natural monument, tops the Serra do Itapetinga at about 1,400 meters. It's Atibaia's highest point and a launch site for hang gliders and paragliders.
Planetário de Campinas
Inside Parque Portugal, the Lagoa do Taquaral park in Campinas, this municipal planetarium has projected the night sky onto its 8-meter dome since 1987, with shows on constellations and astronomy.
Memorial Casa Ronald Golias
Opened in March 2016 in São Carlos, this memorial preserves the legacy of Ronald Golias, the nationally known comedian born in the city on May 4, 1929.
Casa da Cultura Luís Antonio Martinez Corrêa
Araraquara's Casa da Cultura occupies a 1914 mansion protected by São Paulo's heritage council, CONDEPHAAT. It holds historical collections ranging from documents to artworks, plus a small theater and rooms for cultural workshops.
More drives to São José do Rio Preto
- Sorocaba to São José do Rio Preto
- São José dos Campos to São José do Rio Preto
- Belo Horizonte to São José do Rio Preto
- Niterói to São José do Rio Preto
- Juiz de Fora to São José do Rio Preto
- Londrina to São José do Rio Preto
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 São José do Rio Preto?
About 10 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 521 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio de Janeiro to São José do Rio Preto?
About 521 miles (838 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 São José do Rio Preto?
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 São José do Rio Preto use?
In order: BR-116, SP-065, SP-330 and SP-310. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio de Janeiro and São José do Rio Preto?
Closest to the road: Parque Shanghai (park, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 110, 0.3 mi from the route); Museu Frei Galvão (museum, mile 160, 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.