Plan on about 7 h 59 min of driving for the 377-mile (606 km) trip from Santos to Araruama, 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance | 377 mi (606 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-150 → SP-021 → SP-070 → SP-060 → BR-116 → BR-101 → RJ-124 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Santos to Araruama: the shape of the trip
SP-060 (103 mi) and BR-116 (76 mi) carry about 47% of the 377 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Santos and Araruama
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | São Paulo |
| SP-150 | 4–27 | 23 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 27–30 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 30–59 | 29 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 59–60 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 60–116 | 56 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 116–119 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 119–222 | 103 | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 222–298 | 76 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 298–352 | 54 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-124 | 352–371 | 19 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 371–377 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 191 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
What to see on the way from Santos to Araruama
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 147), Itatiaia National Park (mile 201), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 288)
- Nature and outdoors: Ecological Park of Perequê (mile 12), Itatiaia National Park (mile 201), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 344)
- Museums and history: Museu Monteiro Lobato (mile 122), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 147), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 288), Museu da Chácara do Céu (mile 307), Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (mile 311)
Ecological Park of Perequê
Named for the Perequê River that runs through it, the Ecological Park of Perequê (Parque Ecológico do Perequê) is a natural area in the municipality of Cubatão.
Museu Monteiro Lobato
Taubaté's tribute to children's author Monteiro Lobato dates to 1958. The museum occupies the grounds known as the Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, with a historic main house and exhibitions.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Construction of the current basilica at Aparecida started in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980. As Brazil's National Shrine, it keeps the image of Our Lady Aparecida found by fishermen in 1717.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga
Also known as Nova Iguaçu Cathedral, the Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga stands on Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixoto and is the mother church of the Diocese of Nova Iguaçu.
Museu da Chácara do Céu
In Rio de Janeiro's Santa Teresa neighborhood, Museu da Chácara do Céu is an art museum that, together with Museu do Açude, makes up the Castro Maya Museums.
Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Rio's Old Cathedral is a Carmelite church that served as cathedral from around 1808 to 1976 and as Royal and then Imperial Chapel.
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.
Once you reach Araruama
Coqueiral
Coqueiral is a beach in Araruama, Rio de Janeiro state, in a neighborhood of the same name along the Amaral Peixoto highway.
More drives to Araruama
- Barra Mansa to Araruama
- Angra dos Reis to Araruama
- Pindamonhangaba to Araruama
- Taubaté to Araruama
- São José dos Campos to Araruama
- Jacareí to Araruama
From Santos to other places in Brazil
- Santos to Itanhaém
- Santos to Bragança Paulista
- Santos to Itu
- Santos to Limeira
- Santos to Mogi Guaçu
- Santos to Botucatu
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Santos to Araruama?
About 7 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 377 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santos to Araruama?
About 377 miles (606 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 Santos to Araruama 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 Santos to Araruama use?
In order: SP-150, SP-021, SP-070, SP-060, BR-116, BR-101 and RJ-124. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santos and Araruama?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, mile 147, 0.4 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 201, 0.3 mi from the route); Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 288, 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.