Plan on about 10 h 22 min of driving for the 479-mile (771 km) trip from São José do Rio Preto to Itabira, 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Total distance | 479 mi (771 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-345 → MG-444 → MG-344 → MG-050 → BR-262 → BR-381 → BR-040 → MG-434 → MG-129 → AMG-1210 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving São José do Rio Preto to Itabira: the shape of the trip
MG-050 (195 mi) and SP-345 (92 mi) carry about 60% of the 479 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from São José do Rio Preto to Itabira, road by road
| 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 | 190–385 | 195 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 385–400 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 400–408 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 408–410 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 410–418 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 418–420 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 420–456 | 36 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-434 | 456–469 | 13 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-129 | 469–472 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1210 | 472–478 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 478–479 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 158 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Itabira
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (mile 367), Museu do Telefone (mile 418)
- Nature and outdoors: Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 226)
- Museums and history: Museu Ruy Menezes (mile 56), José Chiachiri Municipal Historical Museum (mile 136), Holy Spirit Cathedral, Divinópolis (mile 344), Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (mile 367), Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha (mile 415), Museu do Telefone (mile 418)
- 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.
Holy Spirit Cathedral, Divinópolis
The Holy Spirit Cathedral in Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, is the Roman Catholic church that serves as seat of the Diocese of Divinópolis.
Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco
In Itaúna, Minas Gerais, this municipal museum occupies the old railway station, which served trains from its opening in 1917 until passenger service through the town ended in 1986.
Vale Verde
Vale Verde Parque Ecológico sits in the municipality of Betim, Minas Gerais, on a farm with a still where Cachaça Vale Verde is produced.
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in an organic modern style, the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a chapel in the Pampulha area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
Museu do Telefone
The Museu do Telefone is a museum in the Mangabeiras neighborhood of Belo Horizonte.
When you get to Itabira
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Itabira
Known locally as Itabira Cathedral, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the municipality of Itabira, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Itabira
- Sete Lagoas to Itabira
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Itabira
- Barbacena to Itabira
- Juiz de Fora to Itabira
- Araxá to Itabira
- Petrópolis to Itabira
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 does it take to drive from São José do Rio Preto to Itabira?
About 10 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 479 miles.
How far is Itabira from São José do Rio Preto by car?
About 479 miles (771 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 São José do Rio Preto to Itabira drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from São José do Rio Preto to Itabira?
In order: SP-345, MG-444, MG-344, MG-050, BR-262, BR-381, BR-040, MG-434, MG-129 and AMG-1210. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from São José do Rio Preto to Itabira?
Closest to the road: Cachoeira da Capivara (waterfall, mile 226, 1 mi from the route); Museu Municipal Francisco Manoel Franco (museum, mile 367, 0.5 mi from the route); Museu do Telefone (museum, mile 418, 0.9 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.