Plan on about 10 h 51 min of driving for the 500-mile (804 km) trip from Santos to Tubarão, 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 500 mi (804 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | SPA-291/055 → SP-055 → SP-230 → BR-116 → BR-376 → BR-101 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Santos to Tubarão drive plays out
BR-101 (207 mi) and SP-230 (155 mi) carry about 72% of the 500 miles. It runs through 3 states: São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Santos to Tubarão: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 6–9 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SPA-291/055 | 9–15 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-055 | 15–76 | 61 | São Paulo |
| SP-230 | 76–231 | 155 | São Paulo, Paraná |
| BR-116 | 231–250 | 19 | Paraná |
| BR-376 | 250–293 | 43 | Paraná |
| BR-101 | 293–500 | 207 | Santa Catarina |
- Mile 187 of this route: São Paulo → Paraná (state line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Paraná → Santa Catarina (state line)
Stops between Santos and Tubarão
- Nature and outdoors: Campina do Encantado State Park (mile 121), Pico Paraná State Park (mile 219), Roberto Ribas Lange State Park (mile 222), Praia das Taquaras (mile 378), Praia do Balneário do Estreito (mile 420), Praia de Naufragados (mile 440), Guarda do Embaú (mile 445)
- Museums and history: Itaipu Fortress (mile 7), Museu Arqueológico de Sambaqui de Joinville (mile 318)
Itaipu Fortress
Known as Itaipu Fortress, Forte Duque de Caxias de Itaipu sits on Ponta de Itaipu in Praia Grande, overlooking the São Vicente bar on the São Paulo coast.
Campina do Encantado State Park
Campina do Encantado State Park, in the São Paulo state town of Pariquera-Açu, protects a peat bog and a patch of wetland forest, described as a unique ecosystem of great scientific interest.
Pico Paraná State Park
Pico Paraná State Park protects well-preserved Atlantic Forest in Paraná state and contains a massif with the highest peak in southern Brazil.
Roberto Ribas Lange State Park
Created in 1994 near Antonina and Morretes on the Paraná coast, Roberto Ribas Lange State Park protects Atlantic Forest on the steep slopes of the Serra do Mar. Hundreds of bird species have been recorded in its dense rainforest.
Museu Arqueológico de Sambaqui de Joinville
In Joinville, Santa Catarina, this archaeological museum explores the way of life and culture of the fisher-hunter-gatherer groups who were among the first peoples to spread across South America and settle what is now Brazil.
Praia das Taquaras
Reached by the Interpraias road, Praia das Taquaras (Praia de Taquaras) in Balneário Camboriú has about 1.1 km of coarse sand and calm but deep water, popular for surf casting, plus a small fishing community.
Praia do Balneário do Estreito
Praia do Balneário do Estreito stretches 1.8 km on the mainland side of Florianópolis, with views of small islands in North Bay, the Hercílio Luz Bridge and, to the other side, the city of Biguaçu.
Praia de Naufragados
Praia de Naufragados is a beach about 1.45 km long on Santa Catarina Island in Florianópolis, reachable only by a 4 km walking trail.
Guarda do Embaú
About 46 km south of Florianópolis, Guarda do Embaú (Praia da Guarda do Embaú) is a beach recognized as a World Surfing Reserve, the first of its kind in Brazil.
When you get to Tubarão
Museu Willy Zumblick
In downtown Tubarão, Santa Catarina, the Museu Willy Zumblick keeps a permanent exhibition of part of the collection of local-born artist Willy Zumblick.
More drives to Tubarão
- Palhoça to Tubarão
- Camboriú to Tubarão
- Itajaí to Tubarão
- Blumenau to Tubarão
- Jaraguá do Sul to Tubarão
- Porto Alegre to Tubarão
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 Tubarão?
About 10 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 500 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santos to Tubarão?
About 500 miles (804 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 Tubarão 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 Tubarão use?
In order: SPA-291/055, SP-055, SP-230, BR-116, BR-376 and BR-101. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santos and Tubarão?
Closest to the road: Itaipu Fortress (fortress, mile 7, 1 mi from the route); Praia das Taquaras (beach, mile 378, 2 mi from the route); Praia do Balneário do Estreito (beach, mile 420, 2 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.