Plan on about 11 h 39 min of driving for the 546-mile (879 km) trip from Teresina to Paulo Afonso, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Total distance | 546 mi (879 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-343 → BR-230 → BR-232 → BR-116 → BR-316 → BR-110 |
| States on the route | Piauí, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
What the drive from Teresina to Paulo Afonso is like
BR-230 (163 mi) and BR-343 (162 mi) carry about 60% of the 546 miles. It runs through 4 states: Piauí, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia. Of the 3 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Teresina and Paulo Afonso
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Piauí |
| BR-343 | 9–171 | 162 | Piauí |
| BR-230 | 171–334 | 163 | Piauí, Pernambuco |
| BR-232 | 334–382 | 48 | Pernambuco |
| connecting roads | 382–383 | 1 | Pernambuco |
| BR-116 | 383–417 | 34 | Pernambuco |
| BR-316 | 417–511 | 94 | Pernambuco |
| BR-110 | 511–539 | 28 | Pernambuco, Alagoas |
| local roads | 539–546 | 7 | Alagoas, Bahia |
- Mile 259 of this route: Piauí → Pernambuco (state line)
- Mile 537 of this route: Pernambuco → Alagoas (state line)
- Mile 542 of this route: Alagoas → Bahia (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Teresina and Paulo Afonso
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Ozildo Albano (mile 194), Catedral de Picos (mile 194), St. Anthony Cathedral, Salgueiro (mile 382)
- Museums and history: Museu Ozildo Albano (mile 194), Catedral de Picos (mile 194), St. Anthony Cathedral, Salgueiro (mile 382)
Museu Ozildo Albano
Collector José Albano de Macedo, known as Ozildo Albano, founded this museum in central Picos in 1968, gathering household items, documents, photos, sacred art, books and records; it focuses on the Guaribas River valley's heritage.
Catedral de Picos
Known as the Cathedral of Picos, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Remedies is a Catholic church in Picos, Piauí, and the seat of the Diocese of Picos.
St. Anthony Cathedral, Salgueiro
Salgueiro Cathedral, dedicated to St. Anthony, is a Roman Catholic church in Salgueiro, Pernambuco, serving as the seat of the diocese since October 12, 2010.
Once you reach Paulo Afonso
Paulo Afonso Falls
Next to the city of Paulo Afonso in northeastern Brazil, Paulo Afonso Falls is a series of waterfalls on the São Francisco River.
More drives to Paulo Afonso
- Aracaju to Paulo Afonso
- Recife to Paulo Afonso
- João Pessoa to Paulo Afonso
- Jequié to Paulo Afonso
- Itabuna to Paulo Afonso
- Ilhéus to Paulo Afonso
From Teresina to other places in Brazil
- Teresina to Parnaíba
- Teresina to Sobral
- Teresina to Itapipoca
- Teresina to Barra Grande
- Teresina to Cumbuco
- Teresina to Canoa Quebrada
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Teresina to Paulo Afonso?
About 11 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 546 miles.
How far is Paulo Afonso from Teresina by car?
About 546 miles (879 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 Teresina to Paulo Afonso?
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 Teresina to Paulo Afonso use?
In order: BR-343, BR-230, BR-232, BR-116, BR-316 and BR-110. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Teresina and Paulo Afonso?
Closest to the road: Museu Ozildo Albano (museum, mile 194, 1 mi from the route); Catedral de Picos (cathedral, mile 194, 0.4 mi from the route); St. Anthony Cathedral, Salgueiro (cathedral, mile 382, 0.6 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.