The Wayro route from Serra to Rio das Ostras is 248 miles (399 km), about 6 h 33 min of driving without 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 248 mi (399 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → CA-M-197 → RJ-238 → RJ-180 → RJ-106 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Serra to Rio das Ostras: the shape of the trip
BR-101 (155 mi) and RJ-180 (43 mi) carry about 80% of the 248 miles. It runs through 2 states: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Serra to Rio das Ostras
| 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 | 172–215 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-106 | 215–222 | 7 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 222–234 | 12 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 234–237 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-106 | 237–244 | 7 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 244–248 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 122 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Serra and Rio das Ostras
- Nature and outdoors: Fonte Grande State Park (mile 16), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 18), Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 39), Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 85), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 90), Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 107)
- Museums and history: Museu Histórico da Ilha das Caieiras (mile 13), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 90), Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 107), Palácio dos Urubus (mile 231), Forte Marechal Hermes (mile 231)
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.
Fonte Grande State Park
Fonte Grande State Park is a state-protected park in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument protects a small sugarloaf-shaped hill on the shore of the bay south of Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
Paulo César Vinha State Park
Along the Atlantic shore in Guarapari, Paulo César Vinha State Park protects dunes, lagoons and marshes. Its trails lead to the beach and to Lagoa de Caraís.
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.
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
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.
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.
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.
Arriving in 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 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 Ipatinga
- Serra to Itabira
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Serra to Rio das Ostras?
About 6 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 248 miles.
How far is Rio das Ostras from Serra by car?
About 248 miles (399 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 Serra to Rio das Ostras drive?
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 Serra to Rio das Ostras use?
In order: BR-101, CA-M-197, RJ-238, RJ-180 and RJ-106. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Serra and Rio das Ostras?
Closest to the road: Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (protected area, mile 85, 1 mi from the route); Palácio dos Urubus (historic palace, mile 231, 1 mi from the route); Forte Marechal Hermes (fort, mile 231, 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.