The Wayro route from Rio Grande to Lages is 409 miles (659 km), about 10 h 30 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Total distance | 409 mi (659 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-392 → BR-116 → ERS-240 → ERS-122 → RSC-453 → BR-453 → VRS-815 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Rio Grande to Lages: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (195 mi) and BR-392 (92 mi) carry about 70% of the 409 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Rio Grande to Lages: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 7–99 | 92 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 99–213 | 114 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 213–214 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-240 | 214–222 | 8 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 222–258 | 36 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 258–262 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 262–281 | 19 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-453 | 281–287 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 287–301 | 14 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| VRS-815 | 301–305 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 305–324 | 19 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 324–405 | 81 | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| local roads | 405–409 | 4 | Santa Catarina |
- Mile 368 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Santa Catarina (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Lages
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 99), Salto Ventoso (mile 252), Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 262)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Ventoso (mile 252)
- Museums and history: Catedral São Francisco de Paula (mile 34), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 99), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 180), Farol Santander Porto Alegre (mile 193), Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 262), Museu Ambiência Casa de Pedra (mile 270), National Monument to the Immigrant (mile 275)
Catedral São Francisco de Paula
Seat of the Archdiocese of Pelotas, the Catedral Metropolitana de Pelotas is a Catholic church in Rio Grande do Sul dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola.
Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves
Created by state decree in 1972 and linked to Rio Grande do Sul's culture department, this historic park stands on the old Sesmaria do Cristal, land once granted to the father of Farroupilha leader Bento Gonçalves da Silva.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
Farol Santander Porto Alegre
Formerly Santander Cultural, Farol Santander Porto Alegre is a cultural center run by Banco Santander in a historic building on Alfândega Square.
Porto Alegre Public Market
Porto Alegre's oldest public market, the Public Market downtown is a historic landmark and meeting point with many coffee shops and restaurants.
Salto Ventoso
Salto Ventoso is a waterfall in Farroupilha, Brazil, and a tourist attraction of regional importance.
Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp
A few kilometers from central Caxias do Sul, in the Forqueta district, the Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp is a history museum themed on grapes and wine.
Museu Ambiência Casa de Pedra
Known simply as Casa de Pedra, this history museum in Caxias do Sul opened in 1975 during the centenary of Italian immigration to Rio Grande do Sul and preserves everyday objects of immigrant families.
National Monument to the Immigrant
Standing at the entrance to Caxias do Sul on BR-116, the National Monument to the Immigrant is listed by Brazil's national heritage institute (IPHAN).
Once you reach Lages
Memorial Nereu Ramos
On Rua Frei Rogério in Lages, Memorial Nereu Ramos is a biographical museum honoring Nereu Ramos, the only Santa Catarina native to serve as president of Brazil.
More drives to Lages
- Itajaí to Lages
- São Leopoldo to Lages
- Porto Alegre to Lages
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Lages
- Sorocaba to Lages
- Praia Grande to Lages
From Rio Grande to other places in Brazil
- Rio Grande to Bagé
- Rio Grande to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Rio Grande to Santana do Livramento
- Rio Grande to Bento Gonçalves
- Rio Grande to Erechim
- Rio Grande to Tubarão
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rio Grande to Lages?
About 10 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 409 miles.
How far is Lages from Rio Grande by car?
About 409 miles (659 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 Grande to Lages 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 Grande to Lages use?
In order: BR-392, BR-116, ERS-240, ERS-122, RSC-453, BR-453 and VRS-815. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio Grande and Lages?
Closest to the road: Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 99, 0.5 mi from the route); Salto Ventoso (waterfall, mile 252, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (museum, mile 262, 0.1 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.