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While driving Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes National Park in a day isn’t the most ideal, it’s still an obtainable goal. And hey, even if Dubrovnik is five hours away from Plitvice Lakes, that still closer to the lakes than your hometown, so get on it!
Yes, you read that right. Driving Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes will take you at least five hours. And, if you plan on stopping along the way (totally recommend) this drive will take even longer. Make the most of your drive from Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes by following along this road trip itinerary stopping at the best places for food, scenic shots, and snacks along the way!
READ MORE | 9 Things to do in Dubrovnik
Before Your Trip…
We recommend booking a rental car well in advance. This will save you money, give you more options, and with Discover Cars free cancellation policy, you don’t have to worry if your plans change.
We like booking with our rental cars with Discover Cars because it’s easy to filter with specific needs, and they compare all major and local rental car agency to find you the best price!
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Why Drive Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes National Park?
The drive from Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes is a daunting drive. At over 470 km between Plitvice Lakes and Dubrovnik, and over five hours of travel time, you may wonder if you should even make the drive. We’re here to tell you, you should!
Even with driving on the big toll highway, the drive is gorgeous. And making a day out of the drive, by stopping at the places in this road trip itinerary, makes for a great experience.
- Eat local food in Bosnia
- Support the local farmers by purchasing fresh fruit from the many fruit stands
- And even get a look at the old highway!
We had two weeks in Croatia, flying in and out of Dubrovnik, so we had to do this drive in order to really experience all that Croatia has to offer. If you’re in the same boat, we suggest doing this long drive at the beginning of your trip.
It’s tempting to stop in Zadar or Split and experience those places along the way, but we think doing the big drive in a day, and then slowly taking time to get back to Dubrovnik at the end of your trip, is well worth it. It’s better to have all your car time in one day instead of spaced between multiple days!
Driving Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes By Car Itinerary
First Stop | Dubrovnik Bridge
- still in Dubrovnik, on the edge of the city
- Coordinates | 42.670081, 18.075985
Okay, don’t let this sudden stop scare you. You will get on the road eventually. But seriously, don’t miss out on this viewpoint!
Just past the bridge, you’ll find a large parking lot on the left. You can either park in the dirt parking lot on the right and walk across the highway, or cross over and park in the parking lot on the left. As you leave, don’t let the no turning left sign scare you. While it doesn’t actually seem like it, that’s only meant for large trucks like semis and campers!
Stop 2 | Crossing the Border from Croatia to Bosnia
- roughly one-hour drive 55 km from Dubrovnik
When driving north through Croatia from Dubrovnik, you have to cross through Bosnia. You’ll only be in Bosnia for about 20km before crossing back into Croatia. While crossing the border was a breeze and we didn’t have a line at all, we have read that long lines await you for the border crossing during the high season (late-May through mid-September).
In our experience, crossing into Bosnia we did not need a green card. Rental agencies will try and tell you that you need a green card to cross this border – you don’t. It’s a huge scam! We researched this loads, and didn’t have a green card when we crossed, and had no problem. The border control even looked at our rental paperwork and didn’t say a thing!
Stop 3 | Lunch in Bosnia at Laguna Restaurant
- in Neum – the only town in Bosnia you’ll drive through
- Coordinates | 42.924225, 17.613731
We’ve got a rule that when on road trips, you can’t simply drive through a new country or state. You must stop and eat or enjoy the scenery and culture. Stopping at Restoran Laguna was the perfect place to take in a bit of Bosnia. The staff there are just incredible and were so eager to speak of their country!
With amazing food, extremely low prices, and really nice staff, Restoran Laguna is the perfect lunch stop! You can’t just drive through Bosnia without doing anything, so you might as well stop here! We had tuna steak, a local pasta dish, and each had two affogatos, all for under 23 USD, prices have since increased, but still only 2 USD for a coffee!
Traveler’s Tip… Navigation on your phone will try and take you up through town and a pointless route. Ignore that! Just past the huge Hotel Jardan, before the stoplight, there’s a road off to the left of the highway. Take that road instead and then follow your navigation to Restoran Laguna.. or basically just drive toward the water till you see it!
Traveler’s Tip… You can park on the road right in front of Laguna for free. If you park in the parking spaces before or after the restaurant, you’ll have to pay, and chances are you don’t have Bosnian currency on ya!
4th Stop When Driving Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes | Swim in Bosnia
- just down the road from lunch
- Coordinates | 42.924573, 17.611497
If the border crossing went smoothly, and you got an early start to the drive, take a quick dip or sunbathe in the Adriatic Sea from Bosnia! There are a lovely beach and waterfront just down the road from Restoran Laguna! Just remember, you have a long drive ahead of you still, so don’t stay here for too long!
Stop 5 | Get Fresh Fruit at the Fruit Stands
- after crossing back into Croatia, about 30 minutes/24 km from Neum
- Coordinates | multiple stands along the highway
You probably won’t be hungry after lunch, but be sure to stop at the fruit stands for a snack for later, or for your time at Plitvice Lakes! There are loads of fruit stands to choose from. This is a very important agricultural region of Croatia, and purchasing fruit from the farmers is a great way to support the locals.
You’ll pass by quite a few on the opposite side of the road before finding a lone ranger on the right side. Alternatively, if you continue even further, you’ll find 10-20 stands all in a row once you get down the hill. Trust us here, you can’t miss them!
The fruit will be different depending on the time of year you visit Croatia. We visited at the end of May and ate more peaches than we can count, easily the best we’ve ever had.
If you visit in the high season, late June – July, you’ll be blessed with figs, or in Croatian, “smokva”. A proper treat when in Croatia. — If you do have figs, share a picture below or using #arboursabroad, Jay’s super bummed we missed out on figs and would love to see yours!
Taking the New Toll Highway While Driving Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes National Park
- just after fruit stands and Rogotin
While not technically a stop, you have a long drive ahead of you at this point and need to jump on the new toll highway. Directly after the fruit stands, you jump on the toll road, so seriously stop at the fruit stands before this point!
We actually really enjoyed this drive, and from the start of the toll here to the exit for Plitvice Lakes National Park, we only had to pay 124 HRK (about 18 USD). Not too expensive, but definitely something to keep in mind if your budget is tight! Paying the fee is totally worth it though. Even though it’s a fast-paced highway, the views are still incredible, and the countless tunnels make you feel like a kid again!
Traveler’s Tip… Keep on the lookout for the old highway while going through the mountains! It’s crazy to think where the road used to be!
Stop 6 | Stop and Enjoy the Views
- just past Zadar about 2.5 hours from fruit stands
- Coordinates | 44.250141, 15.638353
While the highway doesn’t offer very many places to actually pull over and enjoy the views around you, just past Zadar, as you reach the top of the mountain, you’ll get the chance to pull over at a viewpoint. Do it!
It’s an old run-down hotel, that was never finished being built. The limestone picnic tables and killer views make for a great place to enjoy some of that fruit you bought earlier! Wander around this kind of creepy building to stretch your legs before getting back on the road! Or hike in the limestone cliffs to get an even better view of the area!
Stop 7 | Grab Groceries For A Plitvice Lakes Picnic
- in Korenica near Plitvice Lakes National Park
- Coordinates | 44.744393, 15.706316
In Korenica there’s the typical Croatian grocery store called Konzum. Stop here and get things like cheese, meat, fruit, and sweets for your time in Plitvice Lakes National Park. Get more food than you think you’ll need, as the sun will really steal all your energy.
Traveler’s Tip.. There’s a local store just before Konzum, and we stopped there to shop because we like to support the locals, but the workers were actually quite rude to us, so we just suggest going to Konzum instead! Save money, and hopefully be treated better!
Stop 8 | Dinner Stop at Vila Velebita
- about 1 hour from the viewpoint, and 20 minutes from the main Plitvice Lakes area
- Coordinates | 44.772869, 15.690856
If you’re not going to eat dinner at your accommodation for the night, we highly recommend eating at Vila Velebita before getting to your accommodation. This way, you can just relax when reaching your stay after a long day on the road.
At Vila Velebita, the portions are huge, the staff is super nice, and the atmosphere is great. It’s just off the road near Plitvice Lakes National Park, and was super crowded both times we saw it!
This area is relatively expensive when compared to other parts of Croatia. With the high tourism in the area, it’s understandable. If you’re on a tight budget, we suggest not going out in this area, and instead, getting food from the grocery store. We ate for under 35 USD – pretty good considering the touristy area and how amazing the food was, but a bit pricey for the budget!
Traveler’s Tip… Try the Odrezak “vila” (a breaded turkey stuffed with ham and creamy cheese) or the Janjetina (lamb on a spit – basically lamb off the spine) both were really tasty!! Portions are quite large, and you have to pay for the bread they bring you!
Final Stop | Arrive At Your Accommodation in Plitvice Lakes
- Book Your Stay Here | Find cheap rates for Camp Korana here
- Coordinates | 44.950991, 15.640529
We stayed at Camp Korana as it was definitely the cheapest accommodation in the area. But be forewarned here… this is a campground. The bungalows are super cute, but you’ll need your own towel and toiletries, and the sheets are pretty rough. It’s a great place if you have your own tent or campervan, but definitely not as nice as other accommodations in the area.
SEARCH NOW | Save money when booking accommodation near Plitvice Lakes National Park ahead of time!
Traveler’s Tip… Wherever you choose to stay, check if they have a shuttle to and from Plitvice Lakes, and how often it runs. You have to pay 7 Kuna an hour to park at the lakes, and there are really not many spaces to park, so check if you can leave the car at your accommodation and shuttle in. Alternatively, look for bus stations near your accommodation you can walk to and jump on a bus from!
Things to Know When Driving Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes National Park
The Dalmatian Coast Route
If you don’t want to pay the toll, or if you have more time, we suggest taking the old highway along the coast! We did this for part of our drive south from Zadar and loved it! As far as we understand, there’s no toll for this road, and while the speed limit is less than half the new highway speed, you’re driving along the coast, so it’s got to be gorgeous! Omis looks like an absolutely amazing place to spend some time!
Cetina Springs
We ended up spending time in Dubrovnik working on a paper, so we didn’t get the chance to stop at Centina Springs, but if you get out of Dubrovnik early enough, this seems like a good place to break up the drive! You can supposedly drink the water right out of the spring here!
Green Card
We said it early, but it’s worth saying it again. If you are only planning on visiting Neum in Bosnia, or just driving straight through to get to the north of Croatia, you DO NOT need a green card. Car rental companies will try to tell you that you do need one, but it’s not true! Only if you’re crossing other borders or going to other countries!
READ MORE | 17 Money-Saving Tips for Renting a Car in Croatia
Toll Roads
You can pay the toll in Euro or Croatian Kuna, or simply whip out your credit card and get some points for driving that road! Don’t stress about having Kuna on you for the tolls, there was no problem paying by card, even when we only had a 3 Euro toll fee!
National Park Plitvice Lakes Tours
If you’re not comfortable driving in Croatia, there are different tour companies offering multiple different tour packages and private tours all around Croatia. When thinking of doing a tour, keep in mind you’ll be stuck to the tour guide’s schedule, and won’t be able to have as much freedom to explore on your own.
I think that about covers it for all you need to know driving Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes National Park. If you have any questions or have any stops to add, shoot us a message on Instagram. Trust us, the five-hour drive is worth it to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Enjoy your trip through Croatia!! It’s one of our favorite countries! And don’t forget to check out our Croatia travel guide page for more travel tips and inspiration on this beautiful country!
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