São Paulo to Macaé is about 379 road miles (610 km): roughly 8 h 9 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Total distance | 379 mi (610 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 9 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 15.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The São Paulo–Macaé drive in a few lines
SP-060 (175 mi) and BR-101 (112 mi) carry about 76% of the 379 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from São Paulo to Macaé
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 5–180 | 175 | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 180–256 | 76 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 256–368 | 112 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-168 | 368–377 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 377–379 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 149 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Macaé
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 105), Itatiaia National Park (mile 158), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 246)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 158), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 301)
- Museums and history: Museu de Ciências Naturais Sylvio Ourique Fragoso (mile 11), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 105), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 246), Civil Police Museum (mile 265), Rio de Janeiro Cathedral (mile 268)
- With kids: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (mile 265)
Museu de Ciências Naturais Sylvio Ourique Fragoso
Also called the Guarulhos Natural Sciences Museum, Museu de Ciências Naturais Sylvio Ourique Fragoso has been inside the Guarulhos Municipal Zoo since 2005, next to an environmental education center.
Municipal Market of São José dos Campos
Completed in 1923 on the site of an 1896 market, the heritage-listed Municipal Market of São José dos Campos sells cheeses, spices, medicinal herbs, preserves, fish and meat, and is known for pastel with sugarcane juice.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Opened in 1956, the Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida sits within the basilica complex in Aparecida. Its collection brings together regional objects, among them archaeological finds and religious items.
Itatiaia National Park
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga
Also known as Nova Iguaçu Cathedral, the Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga stands on Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixoto and is the mother church of the Diocese of Nova Iguaçu.
Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden
Located in the São Cristóvão district, the Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden runs environmental and educational activities built around its animal collection of mainly fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Civil Police Museum
Through permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Museum shows documents and objects tracing the work of the Civil Police in the city since colonial times.
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.
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
- São José dos Campos to Macaé
- Mogi das Cruzes to Macaé
- Jundiaí to Macaé
- Campinas to Macaé
- Santos to Macaé
From São Paulo to other places in Brazil
- São Paulo to Jundiaí
- São Paulo to Bragança Paulista
- São Paulo to Campinas
- São Paulo to Itu
- São Paulo to Mogi Guaçu
- São Paulo to São Carlos
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from São Paulo to Macaé?
About 8 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 379 miles.
How far is Macaé from São Paulo by car?
About 379 miles (610 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 Paulo to Macaé?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from São Paulo 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 Paulo to Macaé?
Closest to the road: Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 105, 0.4 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 158, 0.2 mi from the route); Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 246, 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.