By road, São José do Rio Preto and Barbacena are about 465 miles (749 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 10 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 465 mi (749 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-345 → MG-444 → MG-344 → MG-050 → MG-164 → MG-260 → BR-494 → BR-381 → BR-265 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
On the road from São José do Rio Preto to Barbacena
MG-050 (129 mi) and SP-345 (92 mi) carry about 48% of the 465 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais. None of the 6 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect São José do Rio Preto and Barbacena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–66 | 66 | São Paulo |
| SP-345 | 66–158 | 92 | São Paulo |
| MG-444 | 158–173 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-344 | 173–189 | 16 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 189–190 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 190–319 | 129 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-164 | 319–332 | 13 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 332–334 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-260 | 334–349 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 349–373 | 24 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 373–388 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 388–428 | 40 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 428–431 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 431–462 | 31 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 462–465 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 158 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Places worth a stop between São José do Rio Preto and Barbacena
- Nature and outdoors: Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 226)
- Museums and history: Museu Ruy Menezes (mile 56), José Chiachiri Municipal Historical Museum (mile 136), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (mile 429), Museu de Sant'Ana (mile 434)
- With kids: Thermas dos Laranjais (mile 31)
Thermas dos Laranjais
Thermas dos Laranjais is a water park in the municipality of Olímpia, in São Paulo state, drawing more than two million visitors a year.
Museu Ruy Menezes
In Barretos, São Paulo, the Ruy Menezes Historical, Artistic and Folkloric Museum safeguards the city's memory through documents and objects from local history.
José Chiachiri Municipal Historical Museum
Franca's municipal history museum opened to the public in 1959 and bears the name of its first director, journalist José Chiachiri. Its eclectic collection, donated piece by piece by local residents, ranges from antique furniture to parts of the city's old animal-drawn tram.
Cachoeira da Capivara
In Capitólio, the Ribeirão da Capivara spills over this waterfall on its way into Furnas Lake. A trail of about 900 meters leads to the falls, which drop into a pool roughly 16 meters deep.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei
Also called the São João del Rei Cathedral, this Catholic shrine is a protected heritage site known for colonial-era art, with gold decoration, paintings and statues inside.
Museu de Sant'Ana
Founded in 2014 by the Instituto Cultural Flávio Gutierrez, this Tiradentes art museum specializes in images of Saint Anne, with a collection of 291 statues.
When you get to Barbacena
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Barbacena
- Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena
- Niterói to Barbacena
- Pouso Alegre to Barbacena
- Araruama to Barbacena
- Cabo Frio to Barbacena
- Poços de Caldas to Barbacena
From São José do Rio Preto to other places in Brazil
- São José do Rio Preto to Piracicaba
- São José do Rio Preto to Passos
- São José do Rio Preto to Mogi Guaçu
- São José do Rio Preto to Itu
- São José do Rio Preto to Poços de Caldas
- São José do Rio Preto to Tatuí
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from São José do Rio Preto to Barbacena?
About 10 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 465 miles.
What is the driving distance from São José do Rio Preto to Barbacena?
About 465 miles (749 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 José do Rio Preto to Barbacena?
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 José do Rio Preto to Barbacena use?
In order: SP-345, MG-444, MG-344, MG-050, MG-164, MG-260, BR-494, BR-381 and BR-265. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between São José do Rio Preto and Barbacena?
Closest to the road: Thermas dos Laranjais (water park, mile 31, 2 mi from the route); Cachoeira da Capivara (waterfall, mile 226, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (cathedral, mile 429, 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.