Plan on about 2 h 11 min of driving for the 89-mile (144 km) trip from Santa Maria, Brazil to Santa Cruz do Sul, before any 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance | 89 mi (144 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 2 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | RSC-287 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Santa Maria–Santa Cruz do Sul drive in a few lines
RSC-287 (79 mi) carries about 89% of the 89 miles. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Santa Maria to Santa Cruz do Sul
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-287 | 7–86 | 79 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 86–89 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
Places worth a stop between Santa Maria and Santa Cruz do Sul
Planetário Professor José Mariano da Rocha Filho
Founded in 1971 at the Federal University of Santa Maria, this planetarium seats 120 people and has used a Digistar 4 digital projector since 2011.
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.
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
- 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
- Blumenau to Santa Cruz do Sul
From Santa Maria to other places in Brazil
- 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
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Camboriú
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Santa Maria, Brazil to Santa Cruz do Sul?
About 2 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 89 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa Maria, Brazil to Santa Cruz do Sul?
About 89 miles (144 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 Santa Cruz do Sul drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Santa Maria to Santa Cruz do Sul?
Closest to the road: Planetário Professor José Mariano da Rocha Filho (planetarium, mile 6, 1 mi from the route); Aqueduto de Candelária (aqueduct, mile 63, 1 mi from the route); Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (museum, mile 65, 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.