The Wayro route from Vila Velha to Guaratinguetá is 477 miles (767 km), about 11 h 5 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 by road | 477 mi (767 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 5 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, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
How the Vila Velha to Guaratinguetá drive plays out
RJ-180 (153 mi) and BR-116 (144 mi) carry about 62% of the 477 miles. It runs through 3 states: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Vila Velha to Guaratinguetá
| 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 | 331–475 | 144 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| local roads | 475–477 | 2 | São Paulo |
- Mile 109 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 436 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Stops between Vila Velha and Guaratinguetá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 20), Museum of Life (mile 322), Itatiaia National Park (mile 426)
- Nature and outdoors: Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 20), Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 72), Itatiaia National Park (mile 426)
- Museums and history: Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 313), Museum of Life (mile 322)
- With kids: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (mile 321), Museum of Life (mile 322)
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.
Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Also called Museu do Ingá, this history and art museum occupies the Palácio Nilo Peçanha on Rua Presidente Pedreira in Niterói's Ingá area and is linked to the state arts foundation.
Carioca Aqueduct
Better known as Arcos da Lapa, the Carioca Aqueduct in Rio de Janeiro was built in the mid-18th century to carry fresh water from the Carioca River to the city.
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.
Museum of Life
The Museum of Life is located at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
In Guaratinguetá itself
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
In 1956, São Paulo state created a set of museums for presidents born in the state, among them this one in Guaratinguetá dedicated to Rodrigues Alves, Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906.
Museu Frei Galvão
The Museu Frei Galvão is a municipal cultural institution in Guaratinguetá, in São Paulo state, maintained jointly by the city government and a local association of the museum's friends.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Construction of the current basilica at Aparecida started in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980. As Brazil's National Shrine, it keeps the image of Our Lady Aparecida found by fishermen in 1717.
More drives to Guaratinguetá
- Jacareí to Guaratinguetá
- São Paulo to Guaratinguetá
- Jundiaí to Guaratinguetá
- Sorocaba to Guaratinguetá
- Itu to Guaratinguetá
- Limeira to Guaratinguetá
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 Guaratinguetá?
About 11 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 477 miles.
How far is Guaratinguetá from Vila Velha by car?
About 477 miles (767 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 Guaratinguetá 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 Guaratinguetá?
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 Guaratinguetá?
Closest to the road: Paulo César Vinha State Park (state park, mile 20, 0.6 mi from the route); Museum of Life (science museum, mile 322, 0.2 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 426, 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.