São Vicente to Macaé is about 421 road miles (678 km): roughly 8 h 52 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 421 mi (678 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-160 → SP-021 → SP-070 → SP-060 → BR-116 → BR-101 → RJ-168 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from São Vicente to Macaé
BR-101 (111 mi) and SP-060 (103 mi) carry about 51% of the 421 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
São Vicente to Macaé: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 1–25 | 24 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 25–27 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 27–59 | 32 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 59–60 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 60–116 | 56 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 116–119 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 119–222 | 103 | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 222–298 | 76 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 298–409 | 111 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 409–410 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-168 | 410–418 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 418–421 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 191 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Places worth a stop between São Vicente and Macaé
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 147), Itatiaia National Park (mile 201), Museum of Life (mile 305), Baths of King João VI at Caju (mile 308)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Mar State Park (mile 15), Itatiaia National Park (mile 201), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 344)
- Museums and history: Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 86), Museu Monteiro Lobato (mile 123), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 147), Museum of Life (mile 305), Baths of King João VI at Caju (mile 308), Museu do Negro (mile 311)
- With kids: Museum of Life (mile 305)
Serra do Mar State Park
Covering 778,381 acres of the Serra do Mar mountain range in São Paulo state, this state park protects a vast expanse of continuous Atlantic Forest.
Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley
An 1857 mansion in Jacareí is home to the Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley, where collections range from paintings and religious and popular art to archaeological pottery and stone tools.
Museu Monteiro Lobato
Taubaté's tribute to children's author Monteiro Lobato dates to 1958. The museum occupies the grounds known as the Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, with a historic main house and exhibitions.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida houses the image of Our Lady Aparecida that fishermen pulled from the Paraíba do Sul River in 1717. Work on the current basilica began in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Museum of Life
The Museum of Life is located at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Baths of King João VI at Caju
Also known as the Museu da Limpeza Urbana, the Baths of King João VI (Casa de Banho de Dom João VI) is a museum on Praia do Caju in Rio de Janeiro's Caju neighborhood.
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.
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.
In Macaé itself
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
- São Paulo to Macaé
- Jundiaí to Macaé
- Campinas to Macaé
From São Vicente to other places in Brazil
- São Vicente to Paranapiacaba
- São Vicente to Bragança Paulista
- São Vicente to Itu
- São Vicente to Limeira
- São Vicente to Mogi Guaçu
- São Vicente to Botucatu
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from São Vicente to Macaé?
About 8 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 421 miles.
What is the driving distance from São Vicente to Macaé?
About 421 miles (678 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 Vicente to Macaé 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 Vicente to Macaé?
In order: SP-160, SP-021, SP-070, 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 Vicente to Macaé?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 201, 0.2 mi from the route); Museum of Life (science museum, mile 305, 0.1 mi from the route); Baths of King João VI at Caju (museum, mile 308, 0.2 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.