Vila Velha to Barra Mansa is about 398 road miles (640 km): roughly 9 h 36 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 398 mi (640 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | ES-060 → 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 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Vila Velha to Barra Mansa drive plays out
RJ-180 (153 mi) and BR-101 (124 mi) carry about 70% of the 398 miles. It runs through 2 states: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Vila Velha and Barra Mansa
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-060 | 4–29 | 25 | Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 29–30 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 30–145 | 115 | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 145–146 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 146–152 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
| CA-M-197 | 152–155 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-238 | 155–158 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-180 | 158–311 | 153 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 311–320 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 320–329 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 329–331 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 331–396 | 65 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 396–398 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 109 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
What to see on the way from Vila Velha to Barra Mansa
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 20), Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 320)
- Nature and outdoors: Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 20), Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 72), Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 94), Praia do Buraco (mile 306)
- Museums and history: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 94), Museu de Arte do Rio (mile 316), Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (mile 320)
- With kids: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (mile 321)
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.
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.
Pedra de Itapuca
Between Icaraí and Flechas beaches in Niterói, Pedra de Itapuca is a rock formation considered one of the symbols of the city.
Museu de Arte do Rio
Opened on March 1, 2013, Museu de Arte do Rio is an art museum maintained through a partnership of municipal institutions and private initiatives.
Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins
A public federal institution in Rio's São Cristóvão district, the Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins studies and shares the history of science and technology in Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden
Located in the São Cristóvão district, the Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden runs environmental and educational activities built around its animal collection of mainly fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.
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 Vila Velha to other places in Brazil
- Vila Velha to Governador Valadares
- Vila Velha to Ipatinga
- Vila Velha to Itabira
- Vila Velha to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Vila Velha to Itaguaí
- Vila Velha to Divinópolis
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Vila Velha to Barra Mansa?
About 9 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 398 miles.
What is the driving distance from Vila Velha to Barra Mansa?
About 398 miles (640 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 Vila Velha to Barra Mansa drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Vila Velha to Barra Mansa?
In order: ES-060, 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 Vila Velha to Barra Mansa?
Closest to the road: Paulo César Vinha State Park (state park, mile 20, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (museum, mile 320, 0.6 mi from the route); Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (zoo, mile 321, 1 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.