By road, São José do Rio Preto and Varginha are about 315 miles (507 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 5 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Total distance | 315 mi (507 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-322 → SPA 325/322 → SP-333 → SP-338 → SP-340 → BR-449 → BR-491 → BR-146 → MGC-491 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving São José do Rio Preto to Varginha: the shape of the trip
BR-491 (89 mi) and SP-322 (76 mi) carry about 52% of the 315 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
São José do Rio Preto to Varginha: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–33 | 33 | São Paulo |
| SP-322 | 33–109 | 76 | São Paulo |
| SPA 325/322 | 109–114 | 5 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 114–120 | 6 | São Paulo |
| SP-333 | 120–155 | 35 | São Paulo |
| SP-338 | 155–180 | 25 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 180–181 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-340 | 181–189 | 8 | São Paulo |
| BR-449 | 189–198 | 9 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 198–215 | 17 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-146 | 215–232 | 17 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 232–254 | 22 | Minas Gerais |
| MGC-491 | 254–263 | 9 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 263–313 | 50 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 313–315 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 190 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between São José do Rio Preto and Varginha
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto (mile 115), Teatro Pedro II (mile 115), Parque Ecológico São Sebastião (mile 184)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Ecológico São Sebastião (mile 184)
- Museums and history: André Matarazzo Museum of Arms, Vehicles and Machines Eduardo (mile 66), Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto (mile 115), Museu de Artes Plásticas Quirino da Silva (mile 184), Catedral de Nossa Senhora das Dores (mile 214)
- 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.
André Matarazzo Museum of Arms, Vehicles and Machines Eduardo
Known locally as the Museu do Automóvel, Bebedouro's private museum grew from Eduardo André Matarazzo's collection of vintage vehicles and also shows retired airliners outdoors, including a DC-3 and a Vickers Viscount.
Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto
Opened in 1992 to bring together the city's art collection, the Pedro Manuel-Gismondi Art Museum in Ribeirão Preto is a municipal institution run by the local culture department.
Teatro Pedro II
Ribeirão Preto's Theatro Pedro II is a concert hall for symphonic music and opera, seating 1,588 people across 6,500 square meters.
Parque Ecológico São Sebastião
Parque Ecológico São Sebastião is a permanent preservation area in Mococa, in inland São Paulo state, created in 1996 through the efforts of Vila Quintino residents and the Fundação Ecologia e Vida.
Museu de Artes Plásticas Quirino da Silva
A municipal museum in Mococa, São Paulo, the Museu de Artes Plásticas Quirino da Silva holds about 400 paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures by Brazilian modernist and contemporary artists.
Catedral de Nossa Senhora das Dores
Guaxupé's Catholic cathedral (Catedral de Nossa Senhora das Dores) opened in 1960 and has served since then as the seat of the Diocese of Guaxupé.
In Varginha itself
Museu Municipal de Varginha
Varginha's municipal museum occupies a building put up in 1920 as the local Banco do Brasil office, in what was then the town's commercial heart.
More drives to Varginha
- Belo Horizonte to Varginha
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Varginha
- Ribeirão Preto to Varginha
- Sete Lagoas to Varginha
- Mogi das Cruzes to Varginha
- Araraquara to Varginha
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 Varginha?
About 7 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 315 miles.
What is the driving distance from São José do Rio Preto to Varginha?
About 315 miles (507 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 Varginha 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 Varginha?
In order: SP-322, SPA 325/322, SP-333, SP-338, SP-340, BR-449, BR-491, BR-146 and MGC-491. 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 Varginha?
Closest to the road: Teatro Pedro II (theater, mile 115, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto (museum, mile 115, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque Ecológico São Sebastião (nature reserve, mile 184, 0.8 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.