Plan on about 10 h 49 min of driving for the 526-mile (847 km) trip from São José do Rio Preto to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Paraguay at about mile 526.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution in Paraguay: Departments of Alto Paraná, Amambay, Canindeyú, Concepcion, and San Pedro.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Brazil, Paraguay. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Paraguay August 19, 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.”
- Paraguay: “Driving or traveling at night is not advisable outside of Asuncion”
| Distance | 526 mi (847 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-153 → SP-425 → SP-270 → BR-267 → MS-395 → MS-134 → BR-376 → BR-163 → BR-463 |
| Border crossing | about mile 526, Brazil → Paraguay |
| Regions on the route | São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Amambay |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Paraguay
The route crosses at about mile 526, from Mato Grosso do Sul into Amambay. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Paraguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Paraguay | You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. |
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. |
| The car, entering Paraguay | The State Department notes that Paraguay doesn't require vehicle insurance. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Paraguay (updated September 17, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from São José do Rio Preto to Pedro Juan Caballero
SP-425 (142 mi) and BR-376 (109 mi) carry about 48% of the 526 miles. The first 526 miles are in Brazil; the last 0 are in Paraguay. It runs through 3 regions: São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Amambay. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
São José do Rio Preto to Pedro Juan Caballero: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | São Paulo |
| BR-153 | 5–22 | 17 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 22–23 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-425 | 23–165 | 142 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 165–166 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-270 | 166–224 | 58 | São Paulo |
| BR-267 | 224–242 | 18 | São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul |
| connecting roads | 242–243 | 1 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-395 | 243–301 | 58 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-134 | 301–336 | 35 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| connecting roads | 336–337 | 1 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-376 | 337–446 | 109 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-163 | 446–454 | 8 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-463 | 454–524 | 70 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| local roads | 524–526 | 2 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
- Mile 226 of this route: São Paulo → Mato Grosso do Sul (region line)
- Mile 526 of this route: Mato Grosso do Sul → Amambay (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Pedro Juan Caballero
Museu do Sol
In Penápolis, Museu do Sol displays about 406 works of naïve art by Brazilian and foreign artists, including drawings, carvings, sculptures and paintings, in a mansion opened in 1925.
Teatro Municipal Procópio Ferreira
Named after actor Procópio Ferreira, this municipal theater in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo state, is the city's most-used public venue.
Museu Histórico de Dourados
Museu Histórico de Dourados is a history museum in the city of Dourados, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
More drives to Pedro Juan Caballero
- Asunción to Pedro Juan Caballero
- Corrientes to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay
- Posadas to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay
- Londrina to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay
- Bauru to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay
- Ponta Grossa to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay
More drives from São José do Rio Preto
- 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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from São José do Rio Preto to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay?
About 10 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 526 miles.
How far is Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay from São José do Rio Preto by car?
About 526 miles (847 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.
Where does the São José do Rio Preto to Pedro Juan Caballero drive cross the border?
At about mile 526, from Brazil into Paraguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from São José do Rio Preto into Paraguay?
No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. (U.S. State Department, updated September 17, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the São José do Rio Preto to Pedro Juan Caballero drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Paraguay Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from São José do Rio Preto to Pedro Juan Caballero?
In order: BR-153, SP-425, SP-270, BR-267, MS-395, MS-134, BR-376, BR-163 and BR-463. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between São José do Rio Preto and Pedro Juan Caballero?
Closest to the road: Museu do Sol (museum, mile 64, 2 mi from the route); Teatro Municipal Procópio Ferreira (theater, mile 169, 2 mi from the route); Museu Histórico de Dourados (museum, mile 455, 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.