By road, São Leopoldo and Lages are about 198 miles (319 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 29 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance by road | 198 mi (319 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | ERS-240 → ERS-122 → RSC-453 → BR-453 → VRS-815 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
On the road from São Leopoldo to Lages
BR-116 (81 mi) and ERS-122 (36 mi) carry about 59% of the 198 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
São Leopoldo to Lages: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-240 | 2–11 | 9 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 11–47 | 36 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 47–51 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 51–70 | 19 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-453 | 70–76 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 76–90 | 14 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| VRS-815 | 90–94 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 94–112 | 18 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 112–193 | 81 | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| local roads | 193–198 | 5 | Santa Catarina |
- Mile 158 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Santa Catarina (state line)
What to see on the way from São Leopoldo to Lages
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salto Ventoso (mile 41), Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 51)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Ventoso (mile 41)
- Museums and history: Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 51), St. Theresa's Cathedral, Caxias do Sul (mile 60), Municipal Museum of Caxias do Sul (mile 60), National Monument to the Immigrant (mile 65)
Salto Ventoso
Salto Ventoso is a waterfall in Farroupilha, Brazil, and a tourist attraction of regional importance.
Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp
A few kilometers from central Caxias do Sul, in the Forqueta district, the Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp is a history museum themed on grapes and wine.
St. Theresa's Cathedral, Caxias do Sul
St. Theresa's Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Caxias do Sul, in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state.
Municipal Museum of Caxias do Sul
Housed at 586 Visconde de Pelotas Street, the Municipal Museum of Caxias do Sul covers local history, art and ethnography, with a permanent collection, guided visits and temporary exhibitions.
National Monument to the Immigrant
Standing at the entrance to Caxias do Sul on BR-116, the National Monument to the Immigrant is listed by Brazil's national heritage institute (IPHAN).
Once you reach Lages
Memorial Nereu Ramos
On Rua Frei Rogério in Lages, Memorial Nereu Ramos is a biographical museum honoring Nereu Ramos, the only Santa Catarina native to serve as president of Brazil.
More drives to Lages
- Itajaí to Lages
- Porto Alegre to Lages
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Lages
- Sorocaba to Lages
- Praia Grande to Lages
- São Vicente to Lages
From São Leopoldo to other places in Brazil
- São Leopoldo to Paranaguá
- São Leopoldo to Jaraguá do Sul
- São Leopoldo to Camboriú
- São Leopoldo to Tubarão
- São Leopoldo to Bagé
- São Leopoldo to Santana do Livramento
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from São Leopoldo to Lages?
About 5 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 198 miles.
How far is Lages from São Leopoldo by car?
About 198 miles (319 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 Leopoldo to Lages 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 Leopoldo to Lages use?
In order: ERS-240, ERS-122, RSC-453, BR-453, VRS-815 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between São Leopoldo and Lages?
Closest to the road: Salto Ventoso (waterfall, mile 41, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (museum, mile 51, 0.2 mi from the route); Municipal Museum of Caxias do Sul (museum, mile 60, 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.