Day trips

The 15 Best Day Trips from Rio de Janeiro

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 15 good day trips from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, led by Duque de Caxias, Nova Iguaçu, Juiz de Fora. The closest is Duque de Caxias, about 30 min by car, and 9 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Rio de Janeiro at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Duque de Caxias19 km NW30 minHalf-day trip
Nova Iguaçu32 km NW35 minHalf-day trip
Juiz de Fora128 km N2 hrFull-day trip
Belford Roxo27 km NW40 minHalf-day trip
São João de Meriti23 km NW35 minHalf-day trip
Barra da Tijuca21 km SW30 minHalf-day trip
Petrópolis45 km N50 minHalf-day trip
Volta Redonda104 km NW1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Magé32 km NE35 minHalf-day trip
Itaboraí38 km NE45 minHalf-day trip
Cabo Frio118 km E1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Maricá37 km E45 minHalf-day trip
Nova Friburgo96 km NE1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Barra Mansa109 km W1 hr 40 minFull-day trip
Angra dos Reis117 km W1 hr 50 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Rio de Janeiro

  1. 1

    Duque de Caxias, Brazil

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car19 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro1 hr round trip
  2. 2

    Nova Iguaçu, Brazil

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car32 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro1 hr 10 min round trip

    Known for GRES Beija-Flor de Nilópolis.

  3. 3

    Juiz de Fora, Brazil

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car128 km north of Rio de Janeiro4 hr round trip
  4. 4

    Belford Roxo, Brazil

    Half-day trip
    About 40 min by car27 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro1 hr 20 min round trip
  5. 5

    São João de Meriti, Brazil

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car23 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro1 hr 10 min round trip
  6. 6

    Barra da Tijuca, Brazil

    Half-day trip
    About 30 min by car21 km south-west of Rio de Janeiro1 hr round trip
  7. 7

    Petrópolis, Brazil

    Half-day trip
    About 50 min by car45 km north of Rio de Janeiro1 hr 40 min round trip
  8. 8

    Volta Redonda, Brazil

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car104 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro3 hr 20 min round trip
  9. 9

    Magé, Brazil

    Half-day trip
    About 35 min by car32 km north-east of Rio de Janeiro1 hr 10 min round trip
  10. 10

    Itaboraí, Brazil

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car38 km north-east of Rio de Janeiro1 hr 30 min round trip
  11. 11

    Cabo Frio, Brazil

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car118 km east of Rio de Janeiro3 hr 40 min round trip
  12. 12

    Maricá, Brazil

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car37 km east of Rio de Janeiro1 hr 30 min round trip
  13. 13

    Nova Friburgo, Brazil

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car96 km north-east of Rio de Janeiro3 hr round trip
  14. 14

    Barra Mansa, Brazil

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 40 min by car109 km west of Rio de Janeiro3 hr 20 min round trip
  15. 15

    Angra dos Reis, Brazil

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car117 km west of Rio de Janeiro3 hr 40 min round trip

A sample day trip: Rio de Janeiro to Duque de Caxias

A realistic pace for Duque de Caxias, 19 km from Rio de Janeiro. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave Rio de Janeiro
  2. 09:00Arrive in Duque de Caxias (30 min drive)
  3. 09:15Walk the centre of Duque de Caxias
  4. 11:15Lunch
  5. 12:30Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Duque de Caxias
  6. 15:00Head back to Rio de Janeiro
  7. 15:30Home in Rio de Janeiro

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Rio de Janeiro?
The best day trips from Rio de Janeiro are Duque de Caxias, Nova Iguaçu, Juiz de Fora, Belford Roxo, São João de Meriti. The closest is Duque de Caxias, about 30 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Rio de Janeiro?
Duque de Caxias is the closest, 19 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Rio de Janeiro?
9 places are within about an hour's drive of Rio de Janeiro: Duque de Caxias (30 min), Barra da Tijuca (30 min), São João de Meriti (35 min), Belford Roxo (40 min), Nova Iguaçu (35 min), Magé (35 min).
How far is too far for a day trip from Rio de Janeiro?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Juiz de Fora at 128 km, around 2 hr by car.

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