Two weeks from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, through the hilltop villages of Istria, the Plitvice Lakes and the Krka waterfalls, then the whole Dalmatian coast from Zadar to Split and Makarska. Since 2022, the Pelješac Bridge lets you stay in Croatia all the way, without crossing Bosnia at Neum.
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
May to June and September: the sea is already warm, the parks are quieter and the roads flow freely. In July and August, expect jams on the D8 and full car parks; in winter, Biokovo Nature Park closes (November to March), the bura can restrict traffic on the northern coast and dipped headlights are compulsory by day.
🚗 251 km · 3h20 of driving from Zagreb
A6 to Rijeka, the Učka Tunnel (A8, Bina Istra toll), exit towards Pazin, minor roads to Motovun, then Rovinj.
🚗 261 km · 3h55 of driving from Rovinj
Back through the Učka Tunnel and the A6, A1 to Otočac, then the road via Vrhovine. Mountain roads, with wildlife on the road at night.
🚗 131 km · 2h of driving from Mukinje
Road via Korenica and Udbina, A1 at Gornja Ploča, Sveti Rok Tunnel limited to 80 km/h. Bura possible in winter.
🚗 88 km · 1h10 of driving from Zadar
A1 to the Skradin exit, Krka entrance at Lozovac (free car park) or Skradin (paid), then Šibenik.
🚗 81 km · 1h05 of driving from Šibenik
Coastal D8 via Primošten and Trogir, toll-free. Frequent summer jams at Trogir and on the way into Split via Solin.
🚗 85 km · 1h15 of driving from Split
D8 via Omiš, a corniche road above the sea. Few chances to overtake, heavy traffic in July and August.
🚗 188 km · 2h55 of driving from Makarska
D8 to Komarna, the toll-free Pelješac Bridge that avoids Neum, Ston, then the D8. Your number plate must be registered by your accommodation to drive up to the old town.
Skip Istria and Makarska: Zagreb, Plitvice, Zadar, Šibenik (Krka), Split and Dubrovnik, one night each. Omiš and Ston can be seen on the way to Dubrovnik via the Pelješac Bridge.
| Car hire only, July | ≈ €39 a day |
|---|---|
| Car hire only, February | ≈ €10 a day |
| Annual average in Zagreb | ≈ €26 a day (Kayak, Sept. 2026) |
| One way Zagreb-Dubrovnik | Flat one-way fee on top, shown when booking |
| Vehicle | City car or compact: everything is tarmacked. Usually manual; automatics are rare, dearer and best booked early. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | Zagreb airport, drop-off in Dubrovnik: this one-way hire adds a flat one-way fee. |
| Insurance | Reduced or zero excess as an option; at Avax, the full cover package removes the security deposit. |
| Bosnia and Montenegro | For Mostar or Kotor, a green card and the rental company's consent are required; free with some companies for hires of 3 days or more. |
| Age | 22 and 2 years' licence at Avax; from 18 to 21, €10 a day (€87.50 at most). |
⚠️ Some rental companies charge for, or even ban, simply transiting through Neum: the Pelješac Bridge settles the matter, so keep it in your satnav.
Any European Union licence is enough, with no International Driving Permit. Also carry your passport or ID card. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required.
As in mainland Europe. Seatbelts in front and rear; children under 150 cm in a suitable child seat.
Motorway, expressway, open road; 50 in towns. Under 24 or with under 2 years' licence: 120, 100 and 80.
0 g/l for under-24s, licences held under 2 years and professional drivers.
Ticket on entry, payment on exit in euros or by card, no vignette. Barriers removed on 1 March 2027.
Dipped headlights on by day from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March.
Winter tyres or chains on board; mostly useful inland, towards Plitvice and Gorski kotar.
Phone in hand is banned; a hands-free kit or a single earpiece is tolerated.
Mostly in winter, on the northern coast and the A1 towards Maslenica: bans for some vehicles, check hak.hr before setting off.
Passing places every 300 m, closed to coaches, park closed from November to March.
≈ €1.74 per litre of petrol (Eurosuper 95), €1.91 for diesel
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Check it before you go.
⛽ 1,085 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €130 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
Maximum prices set by the government, reviewed every Tuesday; figures in force on 22 September 2026.
| Zagreb-Rijeka (A6) | €10.10 (car, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Učka Tunnel and A8 to Kanfanar | €10 full fare (Bina Istra) |
| Rijeka-Otočac (A6 then A1) | €10.80 |
| Gornja Ploča-Zadar (A1) | €3.40 |
| Zadar-Skradin (A1) | €3.90 |
| Zagreb-Split direct (A1), for comparison | €26.40 |
| Pelješac Bridge | Free |
| Split-Supetar ferry (Brač) | €26.10 per car, €6.50 per adult in summer |
| Plitvice park | €40 per adult from June to September; parking €2 an hour |
| Krka park | €40 per adult from June to September; free parking at Lozovac |
| Biokovo park (Skywalk) | €15 per adult from June to September, €10 in April-May and October |
| Dubrovnik, parking | Restricted zone around the old town; Ilijina Glavica public garage, accessible without a permit |
| Dubrovnik traffic zone | 1 March to 30 November, plate registered by your accommodation |
|---|---|
| Biokovo road and Skywalk | Park closed from 1 November to 31 March |
| A1 towards Maslenica, northern coast | Bura, mostly in winter: restrictions depending on the wind |
| Krka, shuttle boats and buses | From 1 April to 31 October only |
Allow 10 to 14 days to get from Zagreb to Dubrovnik via Istria, Plitvice, Zadar, Krka, Split and Makarska: 8 stages and 13 nights. In 7 days, skip Istria and Makarska. Add two or three days if you want an island, Brač or Hvar, by car ferry.
In July, about €510 of car hire over 13 days (€39 a day, Kayak average in Zagreb), plus one-way fees. Tolls on the route come to about €38 and petrol costs €1.74 a litre (September 2026). In summer, add €40 per adult at Plitvice and the same at Krka. In February, car hire drops to around €10 a day.
No. Since 26 July 2022, the Pelješac Bridge (2.4 km, toll-free) has linked Komarna to the Pelješac peninsula, avoiding the roughly 9 km crossing through Neum. You reach Dubrovnik via Ston. The old D8 through Neum stays open, with two border checks and, with some rental companies, transit fees.
No vignette: you take a ticket on joining the motorway and pay on leaving, in euros or by card. Zagreb-Split costs €26.40 by car. The barrier-free Crolibertas system, first planned for late 2026, starts on 1 March 2027: number plates and ENC tags are read without stopping.
In Dubrovnik, the approach to the old town is reserved for authorised vehicles from 1 March to 30 November: have your accommodation register your plate, or head for the Ilijina Glavica public garage. At Plitvice, parking costs €2 an hour from June to September; at Krka, the Lozovac car park is free.
Yes, Jadrolinija ferries carry cars. Split-Supetar (Brač) costs €26.10 per car and €6.50 per adult in summer, for a 50-minute crossing. The ticket is valid for any sailing that day but does not guarantee a place: in July and August, turn up at least 45 minutes early.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/croatia · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026
