The Wayro route from Santa Maria, Brazil to Rio Grande is 219 miles (353 km), about 5 h 44 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.”
| Distance | 219 mi (353 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-392 → ERS-734 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Santa Maria–Rio Grande drive in a few lines
BR-392 (210 mi) and ERS-734 (4 mi) carry about 98% of the 219 miles. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Santa Maria and Rio Grande
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 2–212 | 210 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 212–213 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-734 | 213–217 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 217–219 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
What to see on the way from Santa Maria to Rio Grande
Forte de D. Pedro II de Caçapava
North of the town of Caçapava do Sul, in Rio Grande do Sul, Forte de D. Pedro II de Caçapava is a fort listed as protected heritage by IPHAN, Brazil's national heritage institute.
Theatro Sete de Abril
Opened in 1834 in Pelotas, Theatro Sete de Abril dates from the charqueada (salted beef) economic cycle, when Pelotas was among Brazil's wealthiest cities.
Museu da Baronesa
Opened in 1982 and run by the Pelotas city culture department, Museu da Baronesa occupies a building listed as municipal heritage in 1985.
When you get to Rio Grande
Catedral de São Pedro
Seat of the Diocese of Rio Grande, the Catedral de São Pedro in the city of Rio Grande is a church of historic and artistic value whose construction began in 1755.
Eco-Museu da Ilha da Pólvora
Opened in April 1999 in the city of Rio Grande, the Eco-Museu da Ilha da Pólvora was created with support from the Brazilian Army and the Federal University of Rio Grande Foundation.
Museu Náutico
Housed in Warehouse 4 of Rio Grande's old port, the Museu Náutico belongs to the city's university foundation and highlights Rio Grande's ties to the sea and the Lagoa dos Patos estuary.
More drives to Rio Grande
- Porto Alegre to Rio Grande
- São Leopoldo to Rio Grande
- Novo Hamburgo to Rio Grande
- Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande
- Passo Fundo to Rio Grande
- Criciúma to Rio Grande
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 Rio Grande?
About 5 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 219 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa Maria, Brazil to Rio Grande?
About 219 miles (353 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 Rio Grande 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 Santa Maria to Rio Grande use?
In order: BR-392 and ERS-734. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Maria and Rio Grande?
Closest to the road: Forte de D. Pedro II de Caçapava (fort, mile 62, 1 mi from the route); Theatro Sete de Abril (theater, mile 183, 1 mi from the route); Museu da Baronesa (museum, mile 183, 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.