Plan on about 4 h 6 min of driving for the 189-mile (304 km) trip from Teresópolis to Guaratinguetá, 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Total distance | 189 mi (304 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → BR-493 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Teresópolis to Guaratinguetá is like
BR-116 (153 mi) and BR-493 (30 mi) carry about 97% of the 189 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Teresópolis to Guaratinguetá
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 4–38 | 34 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 38–68 | 30 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 68–69 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 69–188 | 119 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| local roads | 188–189 | 1 | São Paulo |
- Mile 148 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Guaratinguetá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 138)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 9), Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 35), Itatiaia National Park (mile 138)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 38)
Serra dos Órgãos National Park
Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects the Serra dos Órgãos range between Petrópolis and Teresópolis, where a roughly 28 km traverse climbs past the Castelos do Açu to Pedra do Sino at 2,263 meters.
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
Itatiaia National Park
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
Once you reach Guaratinguetá
Museu Frei Galvão
In Guaratinguetá, São Paulo state, the Museu Frei Galvão operates as a municipal cultural institution backed by the city and a local friends' association.
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
Guaratinguetá's history museum honors Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906, who lived in the town. São Paulo state created it in 1956 along with museums for other presidents born in the state.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
In 1717, fishermen on the Paraíba do Sul River pulled up an image of Our Lady Aparecida. Today it rests in Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida, a basilica consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1980.
More drives to Guaratinguetá
- Jacareí to Guaratinguetá
- São Paulo to Guaratinguetá
- Jundiaí to Guaratinguetá
- Sorocaba to Guaratinguetá
- Itu to Guaratinguetá
- Limeira to Guaratinguetá
From Teresópolis to other places in Brazil
- Teresópolis to Itaguaí
- Teresópolis to Bragança Paulista
- Teresópolis to Paranapiacaba
- Teresópolis to Cubatão
- Teresópolis to Itu
- Teresópolis to Itanhaém
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Teresópolis to Guaratinguetá?
About 4 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 189 miles.
What is the driving distance from Teresópolis to Guaratinguetá?
About 189 miles (304 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 Teresópolis to Guaratinguetá?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Teresópolis to Guaratinguetá?
In order: BR-116 and BR-493. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Teresópolis to Guaratinguetá?
Closest to the road: Serra dos Órgãos National Park (national park, mile 9, 3 mi from the route); Taquara Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 35, 2 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 138, 0.4 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.