The Wayro route from Rio Grande to Santa Cruz do Sul is 211 miles (339 km), about 5 h 14 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Total distance | 211 mi (339 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-392 → ERS-265 → RSC-471 → ERS-350 → BR-471 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
How the Rio Grande to Santa Cruz do Sul drive plays out
RSC-471 (82 mi) and BR-392 (69 mi) carry about 72% of the 211 miles. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Rio Grande to Santa Cruz do Sul
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 7–70 | 63 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-265 | 70–82 | 12 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 82–83 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 83–89 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-471 | 89–145 | 56 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 145–147 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-350 | 147–150 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-471 | 150–176 | 26 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-471 | 176–207 | 31 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 207–211 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
What to see on the way from Rio Grande to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário (mile 191)
- Museums and history: Catedral São Francisco de Paula (mile 34), Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (mile 34), Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário (mile 191)
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.
Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo
Opened in 1986 on Praça 7 de Julho, across from the Mercado Central in downtown Pelotas, this art museum is part of the Federal University of Pelotas arts center.
Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário
Rio Pardo's mother church, Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário, was begun in 1791 in late Baroque style to a design by Francisco João Roscio, on the site of an earlier chapel.
When you get to Santa Cruz do Sul
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul
Facing Getúlio Vargas Square in central Santa Cruz do Sul, St. John the Baptist Cathedral is the city's Roman Catholic cathedral.
More drives to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Ponta Grossa to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Curitiba to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Paranaguá to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Joinville to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Itajaí to Santa Cruz do Sul
From Rio Grande to other places in Brazil
- Rio Grande to Bagé
- Rio Grande to Santana do Livramento
- Rio Grande to Bento Gonçalves
- Rio Grande to Erechim
- Rio Grande to Tubarão
- Rio Grande to Lages
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rio Grande to Santa Cruz do Sul?
About 5 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 211 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio Grande to Santa Cruz do Sul?
About 211 miles (339 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 Grande to Santa Cruz do Sul?
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 Santa Cruz do Sul use?
In order: BR-392, ERS-265, RSC-471, ERS-350 and BR-471. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rio Grande and Santa Cruz do Sul?
Closest to the road: Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (museum, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Catedral São Francisco de Paula (cathedral, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário (church, mile 191, 0.6 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.