How to get from Campo Grande to Lagoa Santa (GO)

Campo Grande is the nearest state capital to Lagoa Santa after Goiânia and the starting point for many visitors from Mato Grosso do Sul. The trip is about 470 km and takes 6 to 7 hours: the BR-262 toward the east of the state, the BR-158 to Paranaíba, about 400 km from the capital, and the last 75 km to Lagoa Santa, crossing the Aporé River on the Porto Alencastro Bridge, on the border with Goiás. This guide shows the stretches, the stops, the fuel cost and the transport alternatives.

Route summary

• Distance: approximately 470 km.
• Time: 6 to 7 hours of driving; with lunch, about 8 hours.
• Highways: BR-262 (Campo Grande to eastern MS), BR-158 (to Paranaíba) and the access to Lagoa Santa over the bridge on the Aporé River.
• Tolls: there are no known toll plazas on the route; confirm, as the BR-262 and BR-158 may be put under concession.
• Fuel and food: Ribas do Rio Pardo, Água Clara and, above all, Paranaíba.

Step by step, stretch by stretch

1. Campo Grande to Ribas do Rio Pardo and Água Clara (BR-262, ~200 km)

Leave Campo Grande on the BR-262 heading east, the highway that links the capital to Três Lagoas and the state of São Paulo. It is a single-lane road with heavy truck traffic carrying grain, pulp and cattle. Ribas do Rio Pardo, about 100 km away, has gas stations and snack bars and is the first natural break. Água Clara, further on, also has roadside facilities. On this stretch, keep your distance from trucks and use the overtaking lanes to pass.

2. Eastern MS to Paranaíba (BR-262 / BR-158, ~200 km)

From the east of the state, the GPS takes you onto the BR-158 heading north to Paranaíba. The exact route (where you join the BR-158) varies with the app; confirm before leaving and prefer the federal highways. Paranaíba, with about 40,000 inhabitants, is the region's commercial hub and is 398 km from Campo Grande: it has gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets and hotels. It is the place for a late lunch, refueling and, if you like, a visit to the Parque Espelho d'Água or the Lagoa do Areré.

3. Paranaíba to Lagoa Santa (~75 km)

From Paranaíba, head to Lagoa Santa on the road indicated by your GPS. The landmark on this stretch is the Porto Alencastro Bridge, over the Aporé River, which separates Mato Grosso do Sul from Goiás. On the other side, a few kilometers of single-lane road between farms lead to the town. Drive this stretch in daylight: animals on the road and no mobile signal are common.

Partial distances are approximate; the reference Campo Grande–Paranaíba distance is 398 km and the total about 470 km. Check the route on your GPS.

Estimated fuel cost

As a reference, for a car that does 12 km/L with gasoline at R$ 6.20 per liter, the 470 km use about 39 liters, approximately R$ 243 each way and R$ 486 round trip. It is an estimate: the price of gasoline changes from city to city and over the year, and actual consumption depends on the vehicle, the load and the use of air conditioning. Redo the math with your car's numbers.

By bus or plane

• Bus: there is no direct line from Campo Grande to Lagoa Santa. There are buses from the capital to Paranaíba (check companies and times at the Campo Grande bus station). From Paranaíba to Lagoa Santa, 75 km, you need to arrange local transport or a taxi, or continue to Itajá (20 km from Lagoa Santa) and finish from there. Lagoa Santa bus station: (64) 3648-1439.
• Plane: Campo Grande International Airport is one of the two closest to Lagoa Santa (about 470 km, against 430 km from Goiânia). Travelers from other states can fly to Campo Grande, rent a car and follow the route above. There is no urban public transport in Lagoa Santa, so a car is necessary.

Road safety tips

• Animals on the road: along the whole route, and especially between Paranaíba and Lagoa Santa, cattle, rheas and other wild animals cross the road at dusk. Avoid driving the final stretch at night.
• Rain: from October to March summer downpours reduce visibility and make the road slippery.
• Mobile signal: it drops on stretches in eastern MS and between Paranaíba and Lagoa Santa. Download the offline map and share your expected arrival time.
• Fuel: fill up in Paranaíba. In Lagoa Santa supply is limited and may close early.
• Documents: the trip crosses a state border; carry your vehicle documents and a valid driver's license for possible checks.
• Emergencies in Lagoa Santa: Military Police (64) 3640-1147, HPS (64) 3640-1267. More on Useful phone numbers.

Combine it with the region

Travelers from Mato Grosso do Sul can use the route to visit Paranaíba (Porto Alencastro Bridge, Lagoa do Areré, Parque Espelho d'Água) and, with a detour, Cassilândia, with the Salto do Aporé and the Cachoeira do Socorro. See Nearby towns and the Waters Route.