By road, São Carlos and Macaé are about 504 miles (811 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 33 min of driving.
- 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.”
| Total distance | 504 mi (811 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-310 → SP-330 → SP-065 → SP-060 → BR-116 → BR-101 → RJ-168 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving São Carlos to Macaé: the shape of the trip
SP-060 (136 mi) and BR-101 (112 mi) carry about 49% of the 504 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from São Carlos to Macaé
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SP-310 | 3–50 | 47 | São Paulo |
| SP-330 | 50–81 | 31 | São Paulo |
| SP-065 | 81–168 | 87 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 168–169 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 169–305 | 136 | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 305–381 | 76 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 381–493 | 112 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-168 | 493–501 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 501–504 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 274 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between São Carlos and Macaé
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 194), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 234), Itatiaia National Park (mile 283)
- Nature and outdoors: Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 129), Itatiaia National Park (mile 283)
- Museums and history: Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 129), Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 194), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 234), Panteão de Caxias (mile 390), Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (mile 394), Naval Museum (mile 394)
Centro de Convivência
The Centro de Convivência Cultural "Carlos Gomes" is an architectural complex in the Cambuí neighborhood of Campinas. Designed by architect Fábio Penteado, it opened on September 9, 1976.
Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande
Pedra Grande, a protected state natural monument, tops the Serra do Itapetinga at about 1,400 meters. It's Atibaia's highest point and a launch site for hang gliders and paragliders.
Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas
Founded in 1963 and moved to Caçapava a year later, the Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas reopened after renovation in 2023, showing vintage vehicles and engines including a rare Tucker Torpedo and a 1973 Ford Maverick.
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, who lived in Guaratinguetá and served as Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906, is honored at the town's history museum.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Church and Convent of Saint Teresa
Founded in the 18th century in Rio's Santa Teresa neighborhood, the Church and Convent of Saint Teresa is a working Catholic convent regarded by scholars as a landmark of colonial Brazilian Baroque.
Panteão de Caxias
On Avenida Presidente Vargas in Rio de Janeiro, the Panteão de Caxias is a monument built to hold the remains of the Duke of Caxias, patron of the Brazilian army, and his wife.
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.
Naval Museum
Dedicated to preserving Brazil's naval history, the Naval Museum (Museu Naval) is in the center of Rio de Janeiro.
In Macaé itself
Forte Marechal Hermes
Forte Marechal Hermes stands just south of the Macaé River mouth in Macaé, on the point of land between Imbetiba and Conchas beaches, facing the Sant'Anna archipelago.
Palácio dos Urubus
Palácio dos Urubus is a historic building on Rua Doutor Télio Barreto in the center of Macaé, in Rio de Janeiro state.
More drives to Macaé
- Taubaté to Macaé
- São José dos Campos to Macaé
- Mogi das Cruzes to Macaé
- São Paulo to Macaé
- Jundiaí to Macaé
- Campinas to Macaé
From São Carlos to other places in Brazil
- São Carlos to Bragança Paulista
- São Carlos to Paranapiacaba
- São Carlos to Cubatão
- São Carlos to Itanhaém
- São Carlos to Pindamonhangaba
- São Carlos to Itapetininga
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from São Carlos to Macaé?
About 10 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 504 miles.
How far is Macaé from São Carlos by car?
About 504 miles (811 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.
Is it safe to drive from São Carlos to Macaé?
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 São Carlos to Macaé use?
In order: SP-310, SP-330, SP-065, SP-060, BR-116, BR-101 and RJ-168. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from São Carlos to Macaé?
Closest to the road: Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (museum, mile 194, 1 mi from the route); Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (museum, mile 234, 0.5 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 283, 0.3 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.