National Parks
Krka National Park
Stunning travertine waterfalls and emerald pools along the Krka River in Dalmatia.
Road trip route · Croatia · BA
The drive from Zagreb to Dubrovnik covers 377 miles (606 km) and takes about 7 hr 8 min without stops. That's a long haul for one day, most drivers split it over two days, stopping overnight near Krka Waterfalls, which turns a slog into a proper road trip.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €33 one-way plus roughly €16 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
National Parks
Stunning travertine waterfalls and emerald pools along the Krka River in Dalmatia.
Waterfalls
A series of stunning travertine waterfalls along the Krka River where swimming is permitted in the emerald pools below.
Landmarks
A stunning medieval and Ottoman fortified village cascading down a hillside above the Neretva River with a distinctive silo-shaped tower.
Beaches
A lively coastal resort town set beneath the dramatic Biokovo mountain backdrop with a beautiful horseshoe-shaped harbor and pebble beaches.
Cathedrals & Temples
A UNESCO-listed Renaissance cathedral built entirely of stone and marble without any wood or brick, an extraordinary feat of 15th-century engineering.
National Parks
Dramatic Velebit canyons and big-wall climbing crags rise straight from the coast near the Maslenica bridge.
Landmarks
The 'European Great Wall': 5km of medieval defensive ramparts above salt pans and famed oyster beds.
Famous Roads
Croatia's highest paved road corkscrews from the Makarska Riviera to the 1,762 m summit of Sveti Jure, with a glass Skywalk and views across the Adriatic to Italy on clear days.
Photo Spots
A watermill hamlet at Slunj where the Slunjčica river splits into dozens of travertine cascades tumbling between wooden houses: a miniature Plitvice most tourists drive straight past on the way to the lakes.
Driving from Zagreb to Dubrovnik takes about 7 hr 8 min nonstop, covering 377 miles (606 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €33 one-way. Expect around €16 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
It's possible but long: 7 hr 8 min of driving. Most people split it over two days, with an overnight stop near Krka Waterfalls, which turns the drive into a proper road trip.
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Krka National Park, Krka Waterfalls, Počitelj: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Croatia road trip planner or the BA planner, or read the driving in BA guide.