São José dos Campos to Itaperuna is about 337 road miles (543 km): roughly 8 h 27 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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.”
| Distance | 337 mi (543 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-060 → BR-116 → BR-393 → CMG-393 → RJ-186 → RJ-198 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from São José dos Campos to Itaperuna
SP-060 (120 mi) and BR-393 (78 mi) carry about 59% of the 337 miles. It runs through 3 states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: São José dos Campos to Itaperuna
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 5–125 | 120 | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 125–132 | 7 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 132–137 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-393 | 137–209 | 72 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 209–214 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 214–215 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-393 | 215–221 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 221–254 | 33 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 254–255 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| CMG-393 | 255–283 | 28 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 283–284 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| RJ-186 | 284–327 | 43 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-198 | 327–337 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 94 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 255 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
- Mile 289 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between São José dos Campos and Itaperuna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 14), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 50), Itatiaia National Park (mile 103), Santana Cathedral (mile 159), Fazenda São João da Prosperidade (mile 161), Museu Casa da Hera (mile 173), Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte (mile 187)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 103), Serra da Concórdia State Park (mile 172)
- Museums and history: Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 14), Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani" (mile 21), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 50), Santana Cathedral (mile 159), Fazenda São João da Prosperidade (mile 161), Museu Casa da Hera (mile 173), Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte (mile 187)
Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas
A rare Tucker Torpedo and a 1973 Ford Maverick are among the vintage vehicles and engines on display at the Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas in Caçapava.
Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani"
Between 1897 and 1903, a family from Cremona built the brick Casa Indiani in Quiririm. Today the house in this Taubaté district holds the Italian Immigration Museum.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Within the Aparecida basilica complex, the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida) gathers objects from the region, including archaeological pieces and sacred items. It opened in 1956.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Santana Cathedral
Dedicated to St. Anne, this cathedral in Barra do Piraí is the seat of the Diocese of Barra do Piraí–Volta Redonda; Emperor Pedro II attended the laying of its cornerstone during a visit to the parish.
Fazenda São João da Prosperidade
Fazenda São João da Prosperidade is a historic rural estate in Barra do Piraí, Rio de Janeiro state, founded in the 19th century by Antônio Gonçalves de Morais.
Serra da Concórdia State Park
Serra da Concórdia State Park (Parque Estadual da Serra da Concórdia) is a state park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Museu Casa da Hera
Also known as Chácara da Hera, this house museum in central Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro state, shows how a wealthy family lived at the height of the Paraíba Valley coffee boom.
Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte
Dating from the coffee era in Rio de Janeiro state's Paraíba Valley, Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte is a historic estate listed by the state heritage institute.
More drives to Itaperuna
- Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna
- Niterói to Itaperuna
- Barra Mansa to Itaperuna
- Itaguaí to Itaperuna
- Pindamonhangaba to Itaperuna
- Jacareí to Itaperuna
From São José dos Campos to other places in Brazil
- São José dos Campos to Bragança Paulista
- São José dos Campos to Jundiaí
- São José dos Campos to Itu
- São José dos Campos to Limeira
- São José dos Campos to São Carlos
- São José dos Campos to Botucatu
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from São José dos Campos to Itaperuna?
About 8 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 337 miles.
How far is Itaperuna from São José dos Campos by car?
About 337 miles (543 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 dos Campos to Itaperuna drive?
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 dos Campos to Itaperuna use?
In order: SP-060, BR-116, BR-393, CMG-393, RJ-186 and RJ-198. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from São José dos Campos to Itaperuna?
Closest to the road: Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 50, 0.4 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 103, 0.3 mi from the route); Fazenda São Luiz da Boa Sorte (historic estate, mile 187, 0.1 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.