São Carlos: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
São Carlos is a city of 266,427 people in Brazil (São Paulo), 838 m (2,749 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Araraquara Airport (AQA), 34 km (21 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Open São Carlos in Google Maps
Daylight in São Carlos runs from about 10 h 50 min a day in late June to 13 h 31 min in late December (computed for -22.02° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
São Carlos is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Araraquara Airport (AQA), 34 km (21 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 5,907 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Leite Lopes Airport (RAO, 99 km).
Flights to São Carlos: every airport, routes and times
Buses to São Carlos · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- São Paulo, 213 km — flights · buses · car rental · tours
- Guarulhos, 213 km — flights · buses · tours
- Campinas, 130 km — tours
- São Bernardo do Campo, 231 km — flights · tours
- Sorocaba, 171 km — flights · tours
- Uberlândia, 347 km — flights
- Osasco, 203 km — flights · tours
- São José dos Campos, 243 km — flights
- Ribeirão Preto, 94 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Santo André, 230 km — flights
Common questions
Which airport serves São Carlos?
Araraquara Airport (AQA), 34 km (21 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is São Carlos?
About 266,427 people live in São Carlos (GeoNames).
What time zone is São Carlos in?
America/Sao_Paulo, currently UTC-3.
What currency is used in São Carlos?
The Real (BRL). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near São Carlos?
São Paulo (213 km), Guarulhos (213 km), Campinas (130 km), São Bernardo do Campo (231 km), Sorocaba (171 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.