Plan on about 8 h 35 min of driving for the 407-mile (655 km) trip from São Vicente to Rio das Ostras, 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Total distance | 407 mi (655 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-160 → SP-021 → SP-070 → SP-060 → BR-116 → BR-101 → RJ-162 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the São Vicente to Rio das Ostras drive plays out
SP-060 (103 mi) and BR-101 (98 mi) carry about 49% of the 407 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
São Vicente to Rio das Ostras: 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 | 298–396 | 98 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 396–397 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-162 | 397–405 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 405–407 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 191 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Places worth a stop between São Vicente and Rio das Ostras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 147), Itatiaia National Park (mile 201)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Mar State Park (mile 15), Itatiaia National Park (mile 201), Praia do Buraco (mile 321)
- Museums and history: Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 86), Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani" (mile 119), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 147), Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (mile 311), Museu da Imagem e do Som do Rio de Janeiro (mile 311), Janete Costa Museum (mile 314)
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 da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani"
In Quiririm, a district of Taubaté, the Italian Immigration Museum fills the brick Casa Indiani, built between 1897 and 1903 by a family from Cremona, with photos, furniture, machinery and a period classroom recalling immigrant life.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Construction of the current basilica at Aparecida started in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980. As Brazil's National Shrine, it keeps the image of Our Lady Aparecida found by fishermen in 1717.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro's Presbyterian Cathedral is the historic congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil and was the first Presbyterian church in the country.
Museu da Imagem e do Som do Rio de Janeiro
Opened on September 3, 1965, for Rio's fourth centenary, the Museu da Imagem e do Som do Rio de Janeiro is a state museum dedicated to carioca culture.
Janete Costa Museum
The Janete Costa Museum of Popular Art occupies an 1892 mansion in Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, with about 1,400 square meters including its annex.
Praia do Buraco
About four kilometers from Praia Central in Balneário Camboriú, Praia do Buraco borders Praia do Canto; strong waves make it unsafe for swimming, so it draws mostly fishermen and photographers.
When you get to Rio das Ostras
Iriry Lagoon
Also nicknamed Coca-Cola Lagoon, Iriry Lagoon in Rio das Ostras is ringed by a protected area with trails, kiosks, beaches, leisure spots and a lookout.
More drives to Rio das Ostras
- Teresópolis to Rio das Ostras
- Petrópolis to Rio das Ostras
- Barra Mansa to Rio das Ostras
- Angra dos Reis to Rio das Ostras
- Pindamonhangaba to Rio das Ostras
- Taubaté to Rio das Ostras
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 does it take to drive from São Vicente to Rio das Ostras?
About 8 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 407 miles.
How far is Rio das Ostras from São Vicente by car?
About 407 miles (655 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 Vicente to Rio das Ostras?
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 Rio das Ostras?
In order: SP-160, SP-021, SP-070, SP-060, BR-116, BR-101 and RJ-162. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from São Vicente to Rio das Ostras?
Closest to the road: Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, mile 147, 0.4 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 201, 0.2 mi from the route); Janete Costa Museum (museum, mile 314, 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.