By road, Serra and Barra Mansa are about 411 miles (662 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 1 min of driving.
- 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.”
| Distance | 411 mi (662 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → CA-M-197 → RJ-238 → RJ-180 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Serra to Barra Mansa
BR-101 (165 mi) and RJ-180 (152 mi) carry about 77% of the 411 miles. It runs through 2 states: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Serra to Barra Mansa
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 4–159 | 155 | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 159–160 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 160–165 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
| CA-M-197 | 165–168 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-238 | 168–172 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-180 | 172–324 | 152 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 324–334 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 334–342 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 342–344 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 344–410 | 66 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 410–411 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 122 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Stops between Serra and Barra Mansa
- Nature and outdoors: Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 85), Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 107), Praia do Buraco (mile 319)
- Museums and history: Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 13), Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 107), Niterói Contemporary Art Museum (mile 326), Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 333)
Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras
On Ilha das Caieiras in Vitória, Espírito Santo, this history museum is named for Manoel Passos Lyrio; an expansion begun in 2022 adds a section devoted to local fishermen.
Frade e a Freira Natural Monument
Created by state decree in 2007, the Frade e a Freira Natural Monument is a state-run protected area in Espírito Santo spanning parts of Itapemirim, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and Vargem Alta.
Serra das Torres Natural Monument
Covering about 10,459 hectares of Atlantic Forest in Atílio Vivácqua, Mimoso do Sul and Muqui, the Serra das Torres Natural Monument was created in 2010 to protect the peaks of a mountain range in southern Espírito Santo.
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.
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum
Completed in 1996, the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum stands in the city of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro state, and counts among the city's main landmarks.
Theatro Municipal
Built in the early 20th century, the Theatro Municipal is an opera house in Rio de Janeiro's Centro district, regarded as one of Brazil's notable theaters.
Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
The Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro covers the history of the state's prisons and displays contraband seized in prison units, from cell phones to tools used in escape attempts.
More drives to Barra Mansa
- Niterói to Barra Mansa
- Jacareí to Barra Mansa
- São Paulo to Barra Mansa
- Bragança Paulista to Barra Mansa
- Jundiaí to Barra Mansa
- Campinas to Barra Mansa
From Serra to other places in Brazil
- Serra to Guarapari
- Serra to Cachoeiro de Itapemirim
- Serra to Campos dos Goytacazes
- Serra to Governador Valadares
- Serra to Rio das Ostras
- Serra to Ipatinga
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Serra to Barra Mansa?
About 10 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 411 miles.
How far is Barra Mansa from Serra by car?
About 411 miles (662 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 Serra to Barra Mansa?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Serra to Barra Mansa?
In order: BR-101, CA-M-197, RJ-238, RJ-180, BR-040 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Serra to Barra Mansa?
Closest to the road: Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (protected area, mile 85, 1 mi from the route); Niterói Contemporary Art Museum (contemporary art museum, mile 326, 2 mi from the route); Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (museum, mile 333, 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.