Plan on about 11 h 9 min of driving for the 490-mile (788 km) trip from Santa Maria, Brazil to Guaíra, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: 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 by road | 490 mi (788 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-158 → BR-386 → SC-160 → PR-180 → PR-483 → PR-182 → BR-163 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
On the road from Santa Maria to Guaíra
BR-158 (180 mi) and BR-163 (134 mi) carry about 64% of the 490 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Santa Maria to Guaíra, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 6–153 | 147 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-386 | 153–199 | 46 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 199–232 | 33 | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| local roads | 232–242 | 10 | Santa Catarina |
| connecting roads | 242–244 | 2 | Santa Catarina |
| SC-160 | 244–267 | 23 | Santa Catarina |
| connecting roads | 267–268 | 1 | Santa Catarina |
| PR-180 | 268–288 | 20 | Santa Catarina, Paraná |
| connecting roads | 288–291 | 3 | Paraná |
| PR-483 | 291–308 | 17 | Paraná |
| PR-182 | 308–353 | 45 | Paraná |
| BR-163 | 353–487 | 134 | Paraná |
| local roads | 487–490 | 3 | Paraná |
- Mile 201 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Santa Catarina (state line)
- Mile 270 of this route: Santa Catarina → Paraná (state line)
Stops between Santa Maria and Guaíra
Museu Erico Verissimo
In Cruz Alta, the house and museum of writer Érico Veríssimo (Casa e Museu Érico Veríssimo) displays his personal belongings, books, photos, drafts and original manuscripts.
Christ the King Cathedral, Toledo
In the center of Toledo, Paraná, Christ the King Cathedral is the Catholic seat of the Diocese of Toledo in Brazil.
Museu Histórico Willy Barth
Museu Histórico Willy Barth is an art and history museum in Toledo, western Paraná, with roughly 45,000 items, including documents, photographs and historical objects.
More drives to Guaíra
- Bento Gonçalves to Guaíra
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Guaíra
- Guarapuava to Guaíra
- Ponta Grossa to Guaíra
- Curitiba to Guaíra
- Paranaguá to Guaíra
From Santa Maria to other places in Brazil
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Bento Gonçalves
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Erechim
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Umuarama
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Jaraguá do Sul
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Camboriú
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Maria, Brazil to Guaíra?
About 11 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 490 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa Maria, Brazil to Guaíra?
About 490 miles (788 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 Santa Maria to Guaíra drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Santa Maria to Guaíra?
In order: BR-158, BR-386, SC-160, PR-180, PR-483, PR-182 and BR-163. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Santa Maria to Guaíra?
Closest to the road: Museu Erico Verissimo (museum, mile 78, 1 mi from the route); Christ the King Cathedral, Toledo (cathedral, mile 425, 2 mi from the route); Museu Histórico Willy Barth (museum, mile 428, 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.