Plan on about 5 h 9 min of driving for the 213-mile (343 km) trip from São Leopoldo to Rio Grande, before any 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 213 mi (343 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → BR-392 → ERS-734 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from São Leopoldo to Rio Grande is like
BR-116 (111 mi) and BR-392 (33 mi) carry about 68% of the 213 miles. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect São Leopoldo and Rio Grande
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 1–112 | 111 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 112–171 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 171–173 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 173–206 | 33 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-734 | 206–211 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 211–213 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
Stops between São Leopoldo and Rio Grande
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 12), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 112)
- Nature and outdoors: Jacuí Delta State Park (mile 24)
- Museums and history: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 12), Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo (mile 19), Otávio Rocha Viaduct (mile 19), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 32), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 112), Museu da Baronesa (mile 178)
Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas
Canoas's history museum and archive keeps photos, newspapers, maps, documents, audiovisual material and objects that tell the story of the city in Rio Grande do Sul.
Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo
The Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo holds an art collection of about 3,000 items at the Arts Institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre.
Otávio Rocha Viaduct
In Porto Alegre's city center, the Otávio Rocha Viaduct is an engineering landmark spanning the intersection of Duque de Caxias Street and Borges de Medeiros Avenue.
Jacuí Delta State Park
Created in 1976, Jacuí Delta State Park (Parque Estadual Delta do Jacuí) protects the delta between Porto Alegre, Canoas, Eldorado do Sul and nearby towns, where fishers from Ilha da Pintada still practice traditional fishing.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves
Created by state decree in 1972 and linked to Rio Grande do Sul's culture department, this historic park stands on the old Sesmaria do Cristal, land once granted to the father of Farroupilha leader Bento Gonçalves da Silva.
Theatro Sete de Abril
Opened in 1834 in Pelotas, Theatro Sete de Abril dates from the charqueada (salted beef) economic cycle, when Pelotas was among Brazil's wealthiest cities.
Museu da Baronesa
Opened in 1982 and run by the Pelotas city culture department, Museu da Baronesa occupies a building listed as municipal heritage in 1985.
Arriving in Rio Grande
Museu Náutico
Housed in Warehouse 4 of Rio Grande's old port, the Museu Náutico belongs to the city's university foundation and highlights Rio Grande's ties to the sea and the Lagoa dos Patos estuary.
Museu Antártico
The Museu Antártico is a science museum in the city of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, and part of the museum complex run by the local university foundation.
Catedral de São Pedro
Seat of the Diocese of Rio Grande, the Catedral de São Pedro in the city of Rio Grande is a church of historic and artistic value whose construction began in 1755.
More drives to Rio Grande
- Porto Alegre to Rio Grande
- Novo Hamburgo to Rio Grande
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Rio Grande
- Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande
- Passo Fundo to Rio Grande
- Criciúma to Rio Grande
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 Lages
- São Leopoldo to Bagé
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from São Leopoldo to Rio Grande?
About 5 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 213 miles.
What is the driving distance from São Leopoldo to Rio Grande?
About 213 miles (343 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.
Is it safe to drive from São Leopoldo to Rio Grande?
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 Rio Grande use?
In order: BR-116, BR-392 and ERS-734. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between São Leopoldo and Rio Grande?
Closest to the road: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (museum, mile 12, 0.2 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 112, 0.5 mi from the route); Theatro Sete de Abril (theater, mile 178, 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.