Juiz de Fora sits about 180 kilometres north of Rio de Janeiro on the BR-040 highway. The drive takes around two and a half hours in normal traffic, though the road can back up on weekends. Buses run frequently from Rio's Rodoviária Novo Rio terminal; the journey takes approximately three hours and costs around R$50–70. Several companies operate the route, with departures every hour or two throughout the day.
From Belo Horizonte, Juiz de Fora is about 280 kilometres away via the BR-040. The bus takes around four hours. The city has its own rodoviária (bus station) well connected to the centre. There is no direct train service. The nearest major airport is in Rio de Janeiro; the smaller regional airport at Juiz de Fora (Presidente Itamar Franco Airport) has limited connections to São Paulo.