The Wayro route from São Mateus to Barra do Piraí is 452 miles (728 km), about 12 h 16 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 452 mi (728 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-319 → ES-297 → RJ-186 → BR-393 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from São Mateus to Barra do Piraí
BR-101 (231 mi) and BR-393 (123 mi) carry about 78% of the 452 miles. It runs through 3 states: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: São Mateus to Barra do Piraí
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 1–47 | 46 | Espírito Santo |
| local roads | 47–50 | 3 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 50–235 | 185 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-319 | 235–247 | 12 | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| ES-297 | 247–263 | 16 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 263–264 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-186 | 264–327 | 63 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| BR-393 | 327–450 | 123 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 450–452 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 239 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 254 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
- Mile 257 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 322 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
- Mile 357 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Places worth a stop between São Mateus and Barra do Piraí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 101)
- Nature and outdoors: Fonte Grande State Park (mile 131), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 133), Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 153), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 205), Serra da Concórdia State Park (mile 439)
- Museums and history: Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 101), Serra Historical Museum (mile 117), Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 128), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 205)
Buddha of Ibiraçu
Beside the BR-101 highway in Ibiraçu, a 35-meter Buddha statue rises at the Morro da Vargem Zen monastery. The giant figure, part of the monastery grounds, was officially inaugurated in August 2021.
Casa da Cultura de Fundão
Once the Agostini family residence, this two-story house in Fundão is protected as cultural heritage by Espírito Santo state and now works as a museum.
Serra Historical Museum
Founded in 2007, the Serra Historical Museum (Museu Histórico da Serra) in the municipality of Serra, Espírito Santo, keeps a collection of documents, period objects and other historical items.
Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras
On Ilha das Caieiras in Vitória, Espírito Santo, this history museum is named for Manoel Passos Lyrio; an expansion begun in 2022 adds a section devoted to local fishermen.
Fonte Grande State Park
Fonte Grande State Park is a state-protected park in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument protects a small sugarloaf-shaped hill on the shore of the bay south of Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
Paulo César Vinha State Park
Along the Atlantic shore in Guarapari, Paulo César Vinha State Park protects dunes, lagoons and marshes. Its trails lead to the beach and to Lagoa de Caraís.
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
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.
Arriving in Barra do Piraí
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.
More drives to Barra do Piraí
- Pindamonhangaba to Barra do Piraí
- Taubaté to Barra do Piraí
- São José dos Campos to Barra do Piraí
- Jacareí to Barra do Piraí
- São Paulo to Barra do Piraí
- Bragança Paulista to Barra do Piraí
From São Mateus to other places in Brazil
- São Mateus to Itaguaí
- São Mateus to Penedo
- São Mateus to Fumaça
- São Mateus to Lavras
- São Mateus to Nova Serrana
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from São Mateus to Barra do Piraí?
About 12 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 452 miles.
How far is Barra do Piraí from São Mateus by car?
About 452 miles (728 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 Mateus to Barra do Piraí 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 Mateus to Barra do Piraí?
In order: BR-101, BR-319, ES-297, RJ-186 and BR-393. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from São Mateus to Barra do Piraí?
Closest to the road: Buddha of Ibiraçu (statue, mile 94, 2 mi from the route); Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 101, 0.1 mi from the route); Serra Historical Museum (museum, mile 117, 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.