By road, Rio de Janeiro and Teresópolis are about 60 miles (97 km) apart, or roughly 1 h 38 min of driving.
- 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 | 60 mi (97 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 1 h 38 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
What the drive from Rio de Janeiro to Teresópolis is like
BR-116 (34 mi) and BR-040 (10 mi) carry about 73% of the 60 miles. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Rio de Janeiro to Teresópolis
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 11–21 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 21–22 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 22–56 | 34 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 56–60 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
Where to stop on the way to Teresópolis
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 10)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 25), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 51)
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.
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
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.
Once you reach Teresópolis
Castelo Montebello
Castelo Montebello (Castelo Montebello Medieval) stands in the city of Teresópolis, in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro.
Casa da Memória Arthur Dalmasso
Teresópolis keeps its local history at the Casa da Memória Arthur Dalmasso, a museum in a 1920s mansion built by mayor José Lino de Oliveira Leite and once named Villa Cecília after his wife.
Mirante da Granja Guarani
Built by Arnaldo Guinle in 1929, this Teresópolis lookout faces the Verruga do Frade peak and is decorated with tiles by Portuguese ceramist Jorge Colaço, painted in Lisbon.
More drives to Teresópolis
- Taubaté to Teresópolis
- São José dos Campos to Teresópolis
- Jacareí to Teresópolis
- Mogi das Cruzes to Teresópolis
- São Paulo to Teresópolis
- Jundiaí to Teresópolis
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 Teresópolis?
About 1 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 60 miles.
How far is Teresópolis from Rio de Janeiro by car?
About 60 miles (97 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 Teresópolis 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 Teresópolis?
In order: BR-040 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio de Janeiro and Teresópolis?
Closest to the road: Parque Shanghai (park, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); Taquara Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 25, 2 mi from the route); Serra dos Órgãos National Park (national park, mile 51, 3 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.