Santos to Bauru is about 248 road miles (399 km): roughly 4 h 52 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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 | 248 mi (399 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-160 → SP-015 → SP-280 → SP-209 → SP-300 |
| States on the route | São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Santos to Bauru drive plays out
SP-280 (123 mi) and SP-300 (54 mi) carry about 71% of the 248 miles. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Santos and Bauru
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 6–41 | 35 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 41–47 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-015 | 47–53 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-280 | 53–176 | 123 | São Paulo |
| SP-209 | 176–188 | 12 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 188–189 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-300 | 189–243 | 54 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 243–248 | 5 | São Paulo |
Where to stop on the way to Bauru
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): São Paulo Zoo (mile 40), Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 41)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Mar State Park (mile 19), Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 41), Parque Geológico do Varvito (mile 96)
- Museums and history: Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 41), Centro de Memória Dorina Nowill (mile 44), Paço das Artes (mile 48), Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo (mile 52), Museum of Art of the Parliament of Itapevi (mile 66)
- With kids: São Paulo Zoo (mile 40)
Serra do Mar State Park
Covering 778,381 acres of the Serra do Mar mountain range in São Paulo state, this state park protects a vast expanse of continuous Atlantic Forest.
São Paulo Zoo
Set in São Paulo's South Zone on 824,529 square meters of former Atlantic Forest, the São Paulo Zoo contains the spring of the Ipiranga Brook and about four kilometers of pathways.
Botanical Garden of São Paulo
Next to the São Paulo Zoo, the Botanical Garden of São Paulo spans 406 acres inside Fontes do Ipiranga State Park, in the Água Funda district of the city's South Zone.
Centro de Memória Dorina Nowill
Founded in 2002 in São Paulo's Vila Clementino, Centro de Memória Dorina Nowill is a museum presenting the culture of visual impairment as historical heritage.
Paço das Artes
Paço das Artes is an institution of the São Paulo State Culture Secretariat, officially created in March 1970 after starting activities in November 1969.
Centro Cultural Fiesp
The Centro Cultural Fiesp, also named for Ruth Cardoso, is a cultural center in the city of São Paulo that opened in 1964.
Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo
Run as a department of the University of São Paulo, this museum of archaeology and ethnology focuses on research, teaching, and sharing cultural and scientific knowledge with the public.
Museum of Art of the Parliament of Itapevi
Named for Emanuel von Lauenstein Massarani, this contemporary art museum is housed in the Itapevi city council building, in the northeast part of the city.
Parque Geológico do Varvito
Glacial lakes about 280 million years ago left behind the layered varvite now visible at this closed quarry in Itu. The site is a protected geological monument, and visitors can walk right past its walls.
When you get to Bauru
Bauru Zoo
Bauru Zoo (Parque Zoológico Municipal de Bauru) is a public zoo in São Paulo state known for its work preserving Brazilian wildlife. It opened on August 24, 1980, and covers 50,000 square meters.
Museu da Imagem e do Som de Bauru
Bauru's Museum of Image and Sound (Museu da Imagem e do Som de Bauru) collects photos, records, recordings, film footage and equipment to preserve and share the city's media history and culture.
Museu Ferroviário Regional de Bauru
Founded in August 1989, the Bauru Regional Railway Museum stands near the railway station in the center of Bauru, São Paulo state.
More drives to Bauru
- Ribeirão Preto to Bauru
- Uberlândia to Bauru
- Campinas to Bauru
- Jundiaí to Bauru
- São Paulo to Bauru
- Mogi das Cruzes to Bauru
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 is the drive from Santos to Bauru?
About 4 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 248 miles.
How far is Bauru from Santos by car?
About 248 miles (399 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 Bauru 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 Bauru use?
In order: SP-160, SP-015, SP-280, SP-209 and SP-300. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santos and Bauru?
Closest to the road: São Paulo Zoo (zoo, mile 40, 0.8 mi from the route); Botanical Garden of São Paulo (museum, mile 41, 0.7 mi from the route); Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo (ethnographic museum, mile 52, 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.