8.6· 145 reviews
Jardineira Tour
In this jardineira tour of Ouro Preto, we'll embark on a panoramic tour, allowing you to take in the city's primary attractions from a unique perspective.
4 h 30 min
from US$ 19
Road trip
Driving from Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto
Short answer
From Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto it is about 100 km and 1 h 48 min of driving. In a car that gets 11 km/L, with gas at R$ 6.10/L, fuel costs about R$ 55 and tolls about R$ 8: in total, about R$ 63 one way (R$ 127 round trip).
Amounts are in Brazilian reais (R$), with no conversion to another currency. Gas uses the reference price from the ANP, Brazil's National Petroleum Agency.
Sources: ANP (fuel) · OpenStreetMap (route) · updated on October 19, 2026
Distance
100 km
Average time
1 h 48 min
Fuel
R$ 55
Tolls
R$ 8
Calculate with your car
Total one way: R$ 63 · R$ 127 round trip
+ accommodation in Ouro Preto: average nightly rate of about R$ 527. Book before you leave See hotels on Booking → Estimate covers fuel and tolls only, not parking, food or wear on the car. Distance and time calculated on OpenStreetMap; the gas price is a reference price (ANP).
Tours and tickets
Things to do in Ouro Preto
Where to stay
Hotels in Ouro Preto
With 1 h 48 min of driving, it is a good idea to arrive with your hotel already booked: the average nightly rate in Ouro Preto is around R$ 527. If you are driving, confirm that the hotel has parking before you book.
Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.
How many km is it from BH to Ouro Preto
From Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto it is 100 km by the direct route, driven in about 1 h 50 min on the BR-356, the Rodovia dos Inconfidentes. It is the shortest and most used road, and the only one with a single toll on the stretch. Anyone who prefers to detour through Congonhas drives about 140 km and takes close to 2 h 30 min.
Because the drive is short, the cost weighs little on the trip budget: in a car that gets 11 km/L, fuel comes to around R$ 55 per leg, plus the toll. What really changes the bill is the time of year and the lodging, not the road. It is worth checking the best time to visit Ouro Preto before settling on a date.
Routes from Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto
| Route | Distance | Average time | Toll per leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| BR-356 direct (Rodovia dos Inconfidentes) | 100 km | about 1 h 50 min | about R$ 8 |
| With a stop in Congonhas (BR-040 and MG) | about 140 km | about 2 h 30 min | higher, BR-040 toll plazas |
| Adding Mariana on the same day | about 112 km | about 2 h 10 min | about R$ 8 |
Distances and times from OpenStreetMap routing, not counting stops. Tolls vary by vehicle category and by the concessionaires' price adjustments.
The BR-356 and what to expect from the road
The Rodovia dos Inconfidentes is a two-lane road with traffic in both directions for most of the route. It leaves the south side of Belo Horizonte and climbs the Serra do Espinhaço to Ouro Preto's altitude of 1,179 meters. The terrain is the main factor: there are long climbs with an extra lane, tight curves in some places and stretches of thick fog early in the morning and late in the afternoon, especially between May and August.
None of this makes the drive hard, but it changes the planning. Leaving BH at six in the morning in July means driving through mist for much of the trip, so the most comfortable departure time is usually between nine and eleven. There is also heavy truck traffic serving the region's mining, which slows traffic in places. That is why the real time is closer to two hours than to the 1 h 50 min on paper.
Cell signal drops in some valleys, so it is worth downloading the map for offline use before you leave. There are a reasonable number of gas stations in the first half of the route, and they become scarcer near the end.
By car, bus or van
Not everyone needs to drive. The bus connection between the two cities is one of the most frequent in Minas Gerais, operated by Viação Pássaro Verde from the Belo Horizonte bus station, with departures throughout the day and a trip of about two hours. It is the cheapest option and the most relaxed for anyone planning to drink at Ouro Preto's restaurants.
The car is a clear advantage only when the itinerary includes more than one historic town, because the bus network between Mariana, São João del Rei and Tiradentes is much less practical than the direct connection with Belo Horizonte. Inside Ouro Preto, the car gets in the way more than it helps: the historic center is made of cobbled slopes and narrow streets.
Transportation compared
| Option | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Your own car | about 1 h 50 min | anyone adding Mariana, Congonhas or the Estrada Real |
| Intercity bus | about 2 h | a cheap round trip in a day, without worrying about parking |
| Van or private transfer | about 1 h 50 min | groups and anyone arriving at Confins with luggage |
Where to stop between Belo Horizonte and Ouro Preto
A hundred kilometers does not call for a required stop, but there are two detours that justify waking up a little earlier and turning the drive into a sightseeing trip.
Itabirito
It is almost halfway, right on the BR-356, and is the natural stop for breakfast, gas and a restroom break.
Congonhas
A detour along the BR-040 to see Aleijadinho's Twelve Prophets, at the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.
Mariana
It is only 12 km from Ouro Preto along the continuation of the BR-356 and is worth a full half day. See the comparison between Mariana and Ouro Preto.
Itacolomi State Park
The entrance is just before Ouro Preto, with trails and a view of the peak that has served as the city's landmark since the 18th century.
On arrival: parking and getting around Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto's historic center is protected by IPHAN and was the first Brazilian site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in 1980. In practice, that means original stone streets, steep slopes and car traffic that the city restricts on several roads.
The most comfortable approach is to leave the car in the parking lot of your pousada (small inn) or in one of the paid lots near Praça Tiradentes and do the whole day on foot. Shoes with grippy soles matter more here than in any other historic town in Minas, because the stone gets slippery when wet. To plan your days, see the 2-day itinerary for Ouro Preto or the complete guide to Ouro Preto.
Anyone coming up from the coast has a much longer stretch ahead, detailed in the road trip from Rio de Janeiro to Ouro Preto.
Torn between Ouro Preto and another destination?
Before you set out, see Ouro Preto side by side with other destinations competing for the same trip: weather, driving cost, ideal days and profile.
see all comparisons →Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the trip to Ouro Preto
How much does it cost to drive from Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto?
From Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto it is about 100 km and 1 h 48 min of driving. In a car that gets 11 km/L, with gas at R$ 6.10/L, fuel costs about R$ 55 and tolls about R$ 8: in total, about R$ 63 one way (R$ 127 round trip).
How long does the drive from Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto take?
It takes roughly 1 h 48 min by car to cover the 100 km, not counting stops. On public holidays and high-season weekends, the time can increase considerably because of traffic leaving and arriving.
Are there tolls on the way from Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto?
Yes. The route adds up to about R$ 8 in tolls each way. The amount can vary with the vehicle category and with rate adjustments by the toll road operators.
How many km is it from BH to Ouro Preto?
It is 100 km by the direct route, the BR-356 or Rodovia dos Inconfidentes, driven in about 1 h 50 min. Anyone who detours through Congonhas to see Aleijadinho's Twelve Prophets drives roughly 140 km and takes close to 2 h 30 min.
What is the best route from Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto?
The BR-356 is the shortest and most used route: it leaves the south side of Belo Horizonte, passes through Itabirito and goes straight to Ouro Preto. It is a two-lane road for most of the way, with mountain climbs and frequent early-morning fog between May and August, so the most comfortable time to leave is between nine and eleven in the morning.
Can you do a round trip from BH to Ouro Preto in one day?
You can. With under two hours each way, a day trip works well: leave around eight, arrive at ten and head back at the end of the afternoon. What does not fit in a single day is seeing both Ouro Preto and Mariana at a relaxed pace, because each needs at least half a day.
Is there a bus from Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto?
Yes, and it is one of the most frequent bus lines in Minas Gerais. Viação Pássaro Verde runs the connection from the Belo Horizonte bus station, with departures throughout the day and a trip of about two hours. It is the most practical alternative for anyone who does not want to worry about parking in the historic center.
Can you add Mariana to the same trip?
You can, and it is the most common detour. Mariana is 12 km from Ouro Preto along the continuation of the BR-356, about 20 minutes by car, which puts both a little over 110 km from Belo Horizonte. The ideal plan is to sleep one night in Ouro Preto and set aside the next morning for Mariana.