The Wayro route from Rio de Janeiro to Varginha is 242 miles (389 km), about 6 h 20 min of driving without 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Total distance | 242 mi (389 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 20 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → BR-354 → BR-460 → BR-383 → BR-267 → MG-167 → AMG-1010 → BR-491 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
How the Rio de Janeiro to Varginha drive plays out
BR-116 (102 mi) and BR-354 (41 mi) carry about 59% of the 242 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Rio de Janeiro to Varginha, road by road
| 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 | 15–117 | 102 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-354 | 117–158 | 41 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 158–162 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-460 | 162–166 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 166–170 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-383 | 170–181 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-267 | 181–211 | 30 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-167 | 211–222 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1010 | 222–227 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 227–237 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 237–242 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 134 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Rio de Janeiro to Varginha
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 10), Itatiaia National Park (mile 110), Nova Baden State Park (mile 207)
- Museums and history: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 23)
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.
Nova Baden State Park
Nova Baden State Park in Minas Gerais protects rugged, forested terrain that is home to several rare or endangered mammal species.
When you get to Varginha
Museu Municipal de Varginha
Varginha's municipal museum occupies a building put up in 1920 as the local Banco do Brasil office, in what was then the town's commercial heart.
More drives to Varginha
- Belo Horizonte to Varginha
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Varginha
- Ribeirão Preto to Varginha
- Sete Lagoas to Varginha
- Mogi das Cruzes to Varginha
- Araraquara to Varginha
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 Varginha?
About 6 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 242 miles.
How far is Varginha from Rio de Janeiro by car?
About 242 miles (389 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 Varginha 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 Varginha use?
In order: BR-116, BR-354, BR-460, BR-383, BR-267, MG-167, AMG-1010 and BR-491. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio de Janeiro and Varginha?
Closest to the road: Parque Shanghai (park, mile 10, 1 mi from the route); 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). 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.