Landmarks
Zadar Sea Organ
An ingenious architectural sound installation where waves push air through underwater pipes to create haunting, ever-changing music on the waterfront.
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Road trip route · Croatia
Zagreb to Split drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 4 hr 31 min
- Distance
- 410 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €44
- Tolls (est.)
- €21
The Zagreb to Split drive
The drive from Zagreb to Split covers 255 miles (410 km) and takes about 4 hr 31 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €44 one-way plus roughly €21 in motorway tolls. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 255 miles this is longer than 70% of the 144 routes covered here.
Best stops between Zagreb and Split
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
Plitvice Lakes
Breathtaking series of 16 terraced lakes connected by waterfalls set in a lush forested national park.
National Parks
Paklenica National Park
Dramatic Velebit canyons and big-wall climbing crags rise straight from the coast near the Maslenica bridge.
National Parks
Northern Velebit National Park
Karst pinnacles and the Premužić trail thread Croatia's wildest mountain range with sweeping Adriatic views.
Scenic Viewpoints
Vidova Gora
At 778 m the highest peak on any Adriatic island, reached by a paved road across Brač: the summit drops straight to Zlatni Rat beach far below, with Hvar and the open sea beyond.
Famous Bridges
Maslenica Bridge
Bridges over the narrow Novsko Ždrilo strait on the Adriatic Highway and the A1, infamous for bura gusts so fierce the crossing is regularly closed to high-sided vehicles.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Croatia
- Motorway
- 130 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Cestarina (HAC - Hrvatske autoceste)
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest, first-aid kit, spare bulbs
- Winter tyres
- 15 November - 15 April
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Zagreb to Split FAQs
How long is the drive from Zagreb to Split?
Driving from Zagreb to Split takes about 4 hr 31 min nonstop, covering 255 miles (410 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Zagreb to Split?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €44 one-way. Expect around €21 in motorway tolls. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Zagreb to Split in one day?
Yes, at about 4 hr 31 min of driving, Zagreb to Split is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 3 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Zagreb and Split?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Zadar Sea Organ, Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica National Park: see the full list of 6 stops on this page.
More drives from Zagreb & Split
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Croatia road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Croatia guide.