São Vicente to São Carlos is about 188 road miles (303 km): roughly 3 h 45 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Total distance | 188 mi (303 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-160 → SP-015 → SP-348 → SPA-102/330 → SP-330 → SP-310 |
| States on the route | São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the São Vicente to São Carlos drive plays out
SP-348 (49 mi) and SP-310 (47 mi) carry about 51% of the 188 miles. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect São Vicente and São Carlos
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 1–37 | 36 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 37–42 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SP-015 | 42–50 | 8 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 50–52 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-348 | 52–101 | 49 | São Paulo |
| SPA-102/330 | 101–106 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SP-330 | 106–138 | 32 | São Paulo |
| SP-310 | 138–185 | 47 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 185–188 | 3 | São Paulo |
What to see on the way from São Vicente to São Carlos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): São Paulo Zoo (mile 36), Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 37), Parque Estadual da Assessoria de Referência Agrária (ARA) (mile 94)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 37), Parque Estadual da Assessoria de Referência Agrária (ARA) (mile 94)
- Museums and history: Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 37), São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound (mile 43), Museu Histórico Professor Carlos da Silva Lacaz (mile 45), Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo (mile 47), Museu de Minerais e Rochas Heinz Ebert (mile 152)
- With kids: São Paulo Zoo (mile 36)
São Paulo Zoo
Set in São Paulo's South Zone on 824,529 square meters of former Atlantic Forest, the São Paulo Zoo contains the spring of the Ipiranga Brook and about four kilometers of pathways.
Botanical Garden of São Paulo
Next to the São Paulo Zoo, the Botanical Garden of São Paulo spans 406 acres inside Fontes do Ipiranga State Park, in the Água Funda district of the city's South Zone.
Cinemateca Brasileira
The Cinemateca Brasileira is the Brazilian institution responsible for preserving the country's audiovisual production.
Teatro Paulo Eiró
Teatro Paulo Eiró is a public theater in Santo Amaro, south São Paulo, with 467 seats, presenting music, dance and theater, and home to the Santo Amaro Philharmonic Orchestra.
São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound
Set up in 1970, the São Paulo Museum of Image and Sound is a public museum of audiovisual works, created to study and document new media overlooked by traditional museums.
Museu Histórico Professor Carlos da Silva Lacaz
Founded in 1977 as the history museum of the São Paulo medical school, this museum was later renamed for its founder, physician and microbiology researcher Carlos da Silva Lacaz.
Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo
Run as a department of the University of São Paulo, this museum of archaeology and ethnology focuses on research, teaching, and sharing cultural and scientific knowledge with the public.
Parque Estadual da Assessoria de Referência Agrária (ARA)
The ARA State Park (Parque Estadual da ARA) in Valinhos, São Paulo state, covers about 65 acres and protects a small remnant of seasonal semideciduous forest.
Museu de Minerais e Rochas Heinz Ebert
On the Unesp university campus in Rio Claro, the Museu de Minerais e Rochas Heinz Ebert occupies the building of the Department of Petrology and Metallogeny at the Institute of Geosciences and Exact Sciences.
When you get to São Carlos
Museu Histórico e Pedagógico Cerqueira César
Now called Museu de São Carlos, this museum opened in 1957 and holds over 7,000 items about the city, including a replica of a carriage like Dom Pedro II's from his 1886 visit.
São Carlos Municipal Theatre
Officially named Teatro Municipal Dr. Alderico Vieira Perdigão, the São Carlos Municipal Theatre is the city's public theater in São Carlos, in the interior of São Paulo state.
Museum of Science Professor Mario Tolentino
Opened by the city of São Carlos in 2012, this science museum offers interactive exhibits and experiments in science, technology and art, named for professor and historian Mario Tolentino.
More drives to São Carlos
- Jundiaí to São Carlos
- São Paulo to São Carlos
- Santos to São Carlos
- Mogi das Cruzes to São Carlos
- Taubaté to São Carlos
- Guarujá to São Carlos
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 São Carlos?
About 3 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 188 miles.
How far is São Carlos from São Vicente by car?
About 188 miles (303 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 São Carlos?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from São Vicente to São Carlos use?
In order: SP-160, SP-015, SP-348, SPA-102/330, SP-330 and SP-310. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from São Vicente to São Carlos?
Closest to the road: São Paulo Zoo (zoo, mile 36, 0.8 mi from the route); Botanical Garden of São Paulo (museum, mile 37, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque Estadual da Assessoria de Referência Agrária (ARA) (state park, mile 94, 0.9 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.