Plan on about 13 h 47 min of driving for the 556-mile (894 km) trip from São Mateus to Fumaça, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance | 556 mi (894 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → CA-M-197 → RJ-238 → RJ-180 → BR-040 → BR-116 → RJ-159 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the São Mateus to Fumaça drive plays out
BR-101 (278 mi) and RJ-180 (152 mi) carry about 77% of the 556 miles. It runs through 2 states: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from São Mateus to Fumaça
| 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 | 50–273 | 223 | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 273–274 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 274–280 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
| CA-M-197 | 280–283 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-238 | 283–286 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 286–287 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-180 | 287–439 | 152 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 439–448 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 448–457 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 457–459 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 459–536 | 77 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-159 | 536–556 | 20 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 237 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between São Mateus and Fumaça
- Nature and outdoors: Fonte Grande State Park (mile 131), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 205), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 411), Tijuca National Park (mile 449), Reserva Florestal do Grajaú (mile 449)
- Museums and history: Itabira Natural Monument (mile 205), Museum of Tomorrow (mile 445), Museu do Negro (mile 445)
- With kids: Museum of Tomorrow (mile 445)
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.
Fonte Grande State Park
Fonte Grande State Park is a state-protected park in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
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.
Pedra do Índio
On Icaraí beach in Niterói, Pedra do Índio is a rock formation used by local anglers and beachgoers, with views over Guanabara Bay.
Museum of Tomorrow
Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the Museum of Tomorrow is a science museum on the Rio de Janeiro waterfront at Pier Mauá.
Museu do Negro
Museu do Negro is a museum in Rio de Janeiro dedicated to the history of Black people in Brazil, with a particular focus on religion.
Tijuca National Park
Covering mountains inside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is an urban national park within the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
Reserva Florestal do Grajaú
Part of the Tijuca forest, Reserva Florestal do Grajaú is a 136-acre park in Rio's Grajaú neighborhood that covers a slope of the Serra dos Três Rios up to Tijuca National Park.
Once you reach Fumaça
Cachoeira da Fumaça e Jacuba Natural Park
Cachoeira da Fumaça e Jacuba Natural Park is a municipal nature park in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro.
More drives to Fumaça
- Niterói to Fumaça
- São José dos Campos to Fumaça
- Jacareí to Fumaça
- Mogi das Cruzes to Fumaça
- Caraguatatuba to Fumaça
- São Paulo to Fumaça
From São Mateus to other places in Brazil
- São Mateus to Barra do Piraí
- São Mateus to Itaguaí
- São Mateus to Penedo
- São Mateus to Lavras
- São Mateus to Nova Serrana
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from São Mateus to Fumaça?
About 13 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 556 miles.
What is the driving distance from São Mateus to Fumaça?
About 556 miles (894 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 Fumaça 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 Fumaça?
In order: BR-101, CA-M-197, RJ-238, RJ-180, BR-040, BR-116 and RJ-159. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from São Mateus to Fumaça?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 411, 1 mi from the route); Pedra do Índio (rock formation, mile 441, 2 mi from the route); Museum of Tomorrow (science museum, mile 445, 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.