The 15 Best Day Trips from Rio de Janeiro
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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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.
Built from 15 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Rio de Janeiro
- 1
Duque de Caxias, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car19 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro - 2
Nova Iguaçu, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car32 km north-west of Rio de JaneiroKnown for GRES Beija-Flor de Nilópolis.
- 3
Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car128 km north of Rio de Janeiro - 4
Belford Roxo, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car27 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro - 5
São João de Meriti, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car23 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro - 6
Barra da Tijuca, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car21 km south-west of Rio de Janeiro - 7
Petrópolis, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 50 min by car45 km north of Rio de Janeiro - 8
Volta Redonda, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car104 km north-west of Rio de Janeiro - 9
Magé, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car32 km north-east of Rio de Janeiro - 10
Itaboraí, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car38 km north-east of Rio de Janeiro - 11
Cabo Frio, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car118 km east of Rio de Janeiro - 12
Maricá, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car37 km east of Rio de Janeiro - 13
Nova Friburgo, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car96 km north-east of Rio de Janeiro - 14
Barra Mansa, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car109 km west of Rio de Janeiro - 15
Angra dos Reis, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car117 km west of Rio de Janeiro
A sample day: Rio de Janeiro to Duque de Caxias
- 08:30Leave Rio de Janeiro
- 09:00Arrive in Duque de Caxias (30 min drive)
- 09:15Walk the centre of Duque de Caxias
- 11:15Lunch
- 12:30Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Duque de Caxias
- 15:00Head back to Rio de Janeiro
- 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).
- Where can I go for a weekend from Rio de Janeiro?
- For a weekend away from Rio de Janeiro, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Juiz de Fora (128 km, 2 hr), Cabo Frio (118 km, 1 hr 50 min), Angra dos Reis (117 km, 1 hr 50 min), Barra Mansa (109 km, 1 hr 40 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- 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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