The Wayro route from São José dos Campos to Macaé is 324 miles (521 km), about 7 h 3 min of driving without 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.”
| Distance | 324 mi (521 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-060 → BR-116 → BR-101 → RJ-168 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from São José dos Campos to Macaé is like
SP-060 (120 mi) and BR-101 (112 mi) carry about 72% of the 324 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect São José dos Campos and Macaé
| 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 | 125–201 | 76 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 201–313 | 112 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-168 | 313–321 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 321–324 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 94 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Stops between São José dos Campos and Macaé
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 14), Museu Frei Galvão (mile 53), Itatiaia National Park (mile 103), Baths of King João VI at Caju (mile 211)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 103), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 247)
- Museums and history: Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 14), Museu Frei Galvão (mile 53), Rio de Janeiro Cathedral (mile 210), Baths of King João VI at Caju (mile 211), Espaço Cultural da Marinha (mile 214), Forte de São Domingos de Gragoatá (mile 216), Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 217)
Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas
Renovated and reopened in 2023, Caçapava's Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas dates to 1963 and moved to the city a year later. Its collection includes vintage vehicles and engines.
Museu Frei Galvão
Guaratinguetá's city government and a local association of museum friends jointly maintain the Museu Frei Galvão, a municipal cultural institution in São Paulo state.
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.
Rio de Janeiro Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian is the Catholic cathedral of Rio de Janeiro and the seat of the city's archdiocese.
Baths of King João VI at Caju
Also known as the Museu da Limpeza Urbana, the Baths of King João VI (Casa de Banho de Dom João VI) is a museum on Praia do Caju in Rio de Janeiro's Caju neighborhood.
Espaço Cultural da Marinha
Overseen by the Brazilian Navy, the Espaço Cultural da Marinha is a cultural center on Rio de Janeiro's Orla Conde, between Largo da Candelária and Praça XV, with about 1,100 square meters of exhibits.
Forte de São Domingos de Gragoatá
Forte de São Domingos de Gragoatá is a fort in the city of Niterói, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Also called Museu do Ingá, this history and art museum occupies the Palácio Nilo Peçanha on Rua Presidente Pedreira in Niterói's Ingá area and is linked to the state arts foundation.
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.
When you get to Macaé
Forte Marechal Hermes
Forte Marechal Hermes stands just south of the Macaé River mouth in Macaé, on the point of land between Imbetiba and Conchas beaches, facing the Sant'Anna archipelago.
Palácio dos Urubus
Palácio dos Urubus is a historic building on Rua Doutor Télio Barreto in the center of Macaé, in Rio de Janeiro state.
More drives to Macaé
- Taubaté to Macaé
- Mogi das Cruzes to Macaé
- São Paulo to Macaé
- Jundiaí to Macaé
- Campinas to Macaé
- Santos to Macaé
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 Macaé?
About 7 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 324 miles.
What is the driving distance from São José dos Campos to Macaé?
About 324 miles (521 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 Macaé 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 dos Campos to Macaé?
In order: SP-060, BR-116, BR-101 and RJ-168. 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 Macaé?
Closest to the road: Museu Frei Galvão (museum, mile 53, 0.4 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 103, 0.3 mi from the route); Baths of King João VI at Caju (museum, mile 211, 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.