The Wayro route from Santa Maria, Brazil to Lages is 320 miles (515 km), about 8 h 33 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 | 320 mi (515 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | RSC-287 → RSC-453 → ERS-448 → ERS-437 → ERS-122 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Santa Maria to Lages drive plays out
RSC-287 (96 mi) and BR-116 (73 mi) carry about 53% of the 320 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santa Maria to Lages, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-287 | 7–103 | 96 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 103–160 | 57 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 160–165 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 165–166 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 166–173 | 7 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-448 | 173–208 | 35 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-437 | 208–214 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 214–216 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 216–242 | 26 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 242–315 | 73 | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| local roads | 315–320 | 5 | Santa Catarina |
- Mile 279 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Santa Catarina (state line)
Places worth a stop between Santa Maria and Lages
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Antônio Prado historic center (mile 214), Museu Histórico de Ipê (mile 217)
- Museums and history: Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (mile 65), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul (mile 88), Museu do Imigrante (mile 168), Museu Histórico de Ipê (mile 217)
Aqueduto de Candelária
In Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aqueduto de Candelária stands in the Linha Curitiba area. It was commissioned by João Kochenborger, one of the first German immigrants to reach the municipality, in 1862.
Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum
In the town of Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum is part of the Paleorrota Geopark and offers information about the region.
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.
Museu do Imigrante
Museu do Imigrante is a public municipal history museum in Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, run by the Fundação Casa das Artes.
Antônio Prado historic center
Antônio Prado's historic center preserves the heritage of a town founded in 1886, mainly by Italian immigrants, that soon grew into a busy commercial hub in Rio Grande do Sul.
Museu Histórico de Ipê
In the town of Ipê, Rio Grande do Sul, the Historical Museum of Ipê holds old relics and regional history, including artifacts from the native peoples who once lived in the area.
In Lages itself
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
- Sorocaba to Lages
- Praia Grande to Lages
- São Vicente to Lages
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 Guaíra
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Umuarama
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Jaraguá do Sul
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Santa Maria, Brazil to Lages?
About 8 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 320 miles.
How far is Lages from Santa Maria, Brazil by car?
About 320 miles (515 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 Lages drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Santa Maria to Lages?
In order: RSC-287, RSC-453, ERS-448, ERS-437, ERS-122 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Maria and Lages?
Closest to the road: Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (museum, mile 65, 1 mi from the route); Antônio Prado historic center (old town, mile 214, 0.2 mi from the route); Museu Histórico de Ipê (museum, mile 217, 0.7 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.