The Wayro route from Varginha to Itanhaém is 262 miles (422 km), about 5 h 47 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance | 262 mi (422 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-491 → BR-381 → SP-160 → SP-055 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Varginha to Itanhaém: the shape of the trip
BR-381 (173 mi) and SP-160 (30 mi) carry about 77% of the 262 miles. It runs through 2 states: Minas Gerais, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Varginha to Itanhaém: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 3–4 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 4–15 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 15–188 | 173 | Minas Gerais, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 188–191 | 3 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 191–201 | 10 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 201–231 | 30 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 231–232 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-055 | 232–262 | 30 | São Paulo |
- Mile 132 of this route: Minas Gerais → São Paulo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Varginha and Itanhaém
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos (mile 184), Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 201)
- Nature and outdoors: Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 160), Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 201), Praia da Tupi (mile 240)
- Museums and history: Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande (mile 160), Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo (mile 191), Gaetano Ferolla Museum of Public Transport (mile 191), Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of São Paulo (mile 196), Discoteca Oneyda Alvarenga (mile 196), Botanical Garden of São Paulo (mile 201), Museu da Lâmpada (mile 201)
- With kids: Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos (mile 184)
Monumento Natural Estadual da Pedra Grande
Pedra Grande, a protected state natural monument, tops the Serra do Itapetinga at about 1,400 meters. It's Atibaia's highest point and a launch site for hang gliders and paragliders.
Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos
Founded in 1982, the Guarulhos Municipal Zoo keeps more than 400 animals of 100 species on 70,000 square meters, mostly birds, mammals and reptiles native to Brazil.
Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo
Founded by the state government in 1905, the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo shows Brazilian art from the 19th century to today across three buildings: Pinacoteca Luz, Pinacoteca Estação and Pinacoteca Contemporânea.
Gaetano Ferolla Museum of Public Transport
Founded in 1985 on the initiative of former transit worker Gaetano Ferolla, the Gaetano Ferolla Museum of Public Transport (Museu dos Transportes Públicos) has carried his name since 1991.
Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of São Paulo
On Rua Vergueiro in the Paraíso area of São Paulo, the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and is dedicated to Paul the Apostle.
Discoteca Oneyda Alvarenga
Founded in 1935 at Mário de Andrade's initiative, the Discoteca Oneyda Alvarenga at the Centro Cultural São Paulo collects, preserves and shares recordings of Brazilian popular and folk music.
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.
Museu da Lâmpada
Opened in São Paulo on April 15, 2012, Museu da Lâmpada traces the history of lighting and the lamp back to prehistoric times, using items collected by the electrical supplier GIMAWA.
Praia da Tupi
Praia da Tupi is a beach in Praia Grande, São Paulo state, with yellowish sand and blue water; it is one of the city's less crowded beaches and a favorite with surfers.
More drives to Itanhaém
- Cubatão to Itanhaém
- São Paulo to Itanhaém
- Jundiaí to Itanhaém
- Bragança Paulista to Itanhaém
- Itu to Itanhaém
- Campinas to Itanhaém
From Varginha to other places in Brazil
- Varginha to Ubá
- Varginha to Paranapiacaba
- Varginha to Cubatão
- Varginha to Trindade
- Varginha to Jaú
- Varginha to Tatuí
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Varginha to Itanhaém?
About 5 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 262 miles.
How far is Itanhaém from Varginha by car?
About 262 miles (422 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 Varginha to Itanhaém?
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 Varginha to Itanhaém use?
In order: BR-491, BR-381, SP-160 and SP-055. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Varginha and Itanhaém?
Closest to the road: Zoológico Municipal de Guarulhos (zoo, mile 184, 0.9 mi from the route); Botanical Garden of São Paulo (museum, mile 201, 0.7 mi from the route); Museu da Lâmpada (museum, mile 201, 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.