Motorhoming in Croatia: The Perfect Road Trip

While motorhoming in Croatia, we drove down roads that were goat tracks, swam in spectacular waterfalls, ate jet-black squid risotto and met some of the friendliest people, on our year-long European Campervan Trip.

Did we have a good time? No, we had an awesome time …

In early June, with the Adriatic sun warming the Croatian landscape, we started an unforgettable motorhome journey of this wonderful country.

Croatia is a treasure trove of UNESCO World Heritage sites, from the historic splendours of Dubrovnik and Trogir to the architectural marvels of Split’s Diocletian Palace.

One of our most cherished stops, Plitvice Lakes National Park, is the oldest and largest of its kind in Croatia. It boasts lush landscapes and cascading lakes that promise wonder at every turn.

Despite the Croatian War of Independence ending over two decades ago, its echoes resonate deeply. During our travels, locals shared poignant tales of past struggles—some with a touch of bitterness, others with quiet sorrow.

As we navigated through bustling towns and serene rural expanses, the remnants of war—abandoned homes and scarred landscapes—served as sombre reminders of the nation’s resilient spirit.

A trip through Croatia involves a mix of high-rises and rural roads, tourist havens and quiet villages, wide smiles, and poignant moments.

Map: Motorhome Croatia Road Trip

How to Use This Croatia Motorhome Route Map

1. To use this interactive map effectively, click the square icon in the upper right corner to expand.
2. A key will appear on the left, guiding you through various locations.
3. Clicking on any site reveals detailed information about that spot.
4. The pins marked with a P (🔴) show where we stayed with the campervan
5. The numbered pins (🟣) are the places we visited in Croatia
6. The orange (🟠) pins are in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Motorhoming in Croatia Video

Get a feel for Croatia in this 2-minute video of the most beautiful places to visit – including Split, Trogir, Krka National Park, Starigrad-Paklenica, Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik. 

How to Plan Your Motorhome Croatia Road Trip

Planning a road trip across Croatia? We’ve organised our itinerary logically to simplify your travel planning. But remember, the essence of travel, especially when going with the flow in a motorhome or campervan, is flexibility.

Our journey across Croatia in a motorhome was different from our initial plans due to spontaneous decisions and certain insurance restrictions on our first rental van. We hope that by sharing our hindsight and knowledge, you can benefit from a more practical, time-efficient, and economical route than our original one.

We started our adventure in Split, Croatia, arriving by ferry from Italy in our first rented motorhome. Unfortunately, our initial insurance didn’t cover travel through Bosnia Herzegovina, which was essential for visiting Dubrovnik.

Only in the second half of our ‘Year in the Van‘, with a different motorhome rented through another company, did our insurance allow us to enter Bosnia Herzegovina and head into Dubrovnik.

From there, we continued our journey into Albania and eventually went to Greece.

What You Need To Know: Planning Your Road Trip in Croatia

So, planning your own Croatia road trip will depend on various factors, including your starting point, the duration of your journey, and your travel insurance coverage. Adapt the information in this post to fit your own schedule and logistics.

Important things to consider:

• The time you have available to spend in Croatia
• Your point of entry into the country
• Insurance coverage for your car, motorhome, or van
• Necessary visas
  ❗️Check your Croatia visa requirements here
  ❗️Check your Bosnia-Herzegovina visa requirements here

Campervan Rental Croatia

We use Motorhome Republic to source the best campervan/motorhome rental deals for what we want to spend. I tested them by doing my own run-around for quotes, and I couldn’t beat them on price. Yes, they are great.

Our Motorhoming Croatia Experience

As we drove through Croatia, we visited various locations. Some places were crowd magnets, and others were off the beaten path. Our Croatia road trip took about ten days.

We also suggest a detour into nearby Bosnia and Herzegovina if you have extra time.

If you do consider the detour, make sure that your travel insurance and vehicle insurance cover Bosnia.  Additionally, be sure to have all your travel documents, such as passports and all vehicle documentation, handy when crossing borders.

Note: Croatia is divided in two in the south by Bosnia-Herzegovina, so you must pass through passport control if you travel from Split to Dubrovnik.

Our motorhome Croatia Road Trip included the following places – with added details of our motorhome campsites.

(We used the Campercontact App, which we found the best due to its ease of use, ability to be used offline and because there were plenty of reviews so that we could avoid those sites with a bad rap.)

As with any road trip route, your itinerary is dictated by the type of activities you enjoy. We love getting out and about in nature, so our favourite places to visit in Croatia are Krka National Park and Plitvice Lakes.

We also avoid the bigger cities, but you may want to include the capital, Zagreb, on your road trip. If you have time, you may also like to include a detour to Mostar in Bosnia Herzegovina.

Campervanning in Croatia – Places to Visit

Stop 1: Plitvice Lakes

🚗 Motorhome Stop: Bear Campsite

We parked our motorhome at Bear Campsite in Plitvice.  It was a great campervan stop, and the owner ran a shuttle to Plitvice Lakes every morning.

The campsite owners were super friendly, and you could help yourself to the cherries growing on the trees.

If you are looking for accommodation near Plitvice Lakes, check out the places with the best reviews here on Booking.com.

Plitvice Lakes are UNESCO World Heritage-listed and incredibly beautiful, with about 16 lakes cascading into each other.

Plitvice National Park has several hiking trails that take you through the forest and around the lakes. Shorter walking routes are also available among the lakes, and your entry ticket includes a trip on an electric boat.

We spent the day hiking around the lake, which took us longer than we thought. Check with the information centre about the time to do certain hikes.

💡🏊🏼‍♀️❌ Unfortunately, you are not able to swim in the lakes, unlike at Krka National Park.

Grab your 1-day official Plitvice Park entry tickets here:

Stop 2: Starigrad-Paklenica

🚗 Motorhome Stop: Autocamp Vila Popo

📏 Driving distance: Plitvice Lakes to Starigrad-Paklenica: 100km

The next stop on our Croatian motorhome road trip was Vila Popo Campsite in Starigrad (not to be confused with Stari Grad, a historical old town on the island of Hvar, Croatia).

This campsite is really close to the Paklenica National Park, the second oldest National Park in Croatia.

Starigrad-Paklenica stretches for 20 km along the Adriatic Coast and is at the foot of the Velebit Mountains in Paklenica National Park. The park is ideal for hiking, cycling, and rock climbing.

The national park has an entrance fee, but once inside, you can discover its magnificent canyons, black pine and beech forests, the Manita Peć cave, and underground bunkers (tunnels), built by the Yugoslav army amid tensions with the USSR in the 1950s.

We cycled to Večka Kula beach and had a refreshing dip in the ocean.

Here, at Večka Kula, you’ll find an old ruin of a fortification. Beautiful scenery, a small pebble beach and the magnificent Velebit Mountain in the background will surround you.

The serenity here was perfect.

Stop 3: Krka National Park

🚗 Motorhome Stop: Camp Marina or Autokamp Krka

📏 Driving distance: Starigrad-Paklenica to Krka NP: 87km

The cascades on the Krka River intertwine amongst every shade of green you can imagine. Nature embraces you here. You can do little but be caught up in its soothing embrace.

Krka National Park was our favourite destination in Croatia. Swimming is permitted here, but only within the designated areas.

The national park is large, covering 109 square kilometres, so driving between the attractions within the park was the easiest and quickest way.

When we were there, in early June, hundreds of dazzling dragonflies flitted to and fro around the reeds and water weeds. Their luminescent greens and blues add to the magical beauty of Krka National Park.

I’d seen the gorgeous photos of the Skradinski Buk Falls of Krka in magazines and Instagram and wondered if they really were as stunning in reality … they were.

As I sat in the warm sunshine, gazing into the crystal clear water below, I felt a surge of gratitude and an intense appreciation of our decision to travel.

The images in those magazines couldn’t ever capture the real essence of the place. For that, you need to be there in the flesh.

Don’t fancy the drive yourself? Join this guided tour to Krka NP from Split with an optional wine tasting. It has a ⭐️ 4.7/5 rating.

 How to Get to Krka National Park

From Starigrad, the trip is about an hour. If you are driving from Split, the journey takes about one and a half hours.

Finding out which entrance to arrive at in Krka can be a little confusing. The easiest way seems to be the route we took coming off the main road from Split to the Lozovac main entrance. (See map) .

This is where the tour buses park and there is free parking for visitors.

It is the closest entrance to the main Skradinski Buk Falls, and as this is the main attraction, it’s best to get there first to avoid the crowds.

For details on the four other entrances, check out the Krka National Park Website, which also gives schedules for ferry times between different parts of the park.

🎟️ Krka National Park Tickets

We would recommend buying your tickets online to ensure you can get entry, as many of the ticket allocations can be taken up by arranged tours.

Main Places to Visit at Krka National Park

The main attractions within Krka National Park are the Skradinski Buk Waterfall, Visovac Lake and Roski Slap Falls. We cover them in detail below.

Skradinski Buk Waterfall

Certainly, the star of the show is the Skradinski Buk Waterfall. 

From Lozovac, the main entrance, it is a short walk to the wooden walkway that leads into the park. It takes you past small waterfalls and inlets, home to turtles, frogs, and dragonflies that dart here and there over the water.

You finally arrive at the hugely impressive Skradinski Buk Waterfall.

We were lucky enough to be one of the first arrivals and had the falls to ourselves for a while. You can swim here, and a dip in the freezing cold water is quite refreshing.

Visovac Lake and Island of Visovac

We drove to our next stop, Visovac Lake, upstream of Skradinski Buk. Here, we looked towards the tiny island, Visovac, where a Franciscan Monastery and church dating back to the 15th century is sited. Boat trips are available to the island.

Because of the distance, you don’t get views, and the island is lined with trees. Although not quite as iconic as the island in the middle of Lake Bled, Slovenia, we thought it was still eye-catching.

Getting to the Island

Boats depart Remetic and Stinice villages (close to Bristane village). On Sundays, the monastery’s own boats can be ridden for free. It’s a 5-minute journey with these departure times:

• Stinica to Visovac: 09.30 a.m.; 10.00 a.m.; 10.30 a.m. (Sundays)
• Remetic to Visovac: 09.45 a.m.; 10.15 a.m.; 10.45 a.m. (Sundays)

Not arriving on a Sunday?  Join a paid boat ride from Skradin, Stinice or Remetic.

Visovac Lake is the largest expansion of the Krka River and is situated between Roski Slap to the north and Skradinski Falls to the south.

This vast lake is one of the last Mediterranean habitats for otters. We searched for any sign of them, but they hid too well.

Roski Slap

Our final stop for the day was to Roski Slap or Roski Falls. It is not quite as impressive as the Skradinski Falls, but it is beautiful in its own way.

Here, you find the main waterfall, about 15 metres high, and then a series of small cascades that the locals call the ‘necklace’.

Dragonflies flitted about in the hundreds here, too, and I could have stayed the day just watching them and trying to capture a photo … if they would just stay still long enough.

Accommodation Near Krka National Park

We drove up from Split to visit Krka for the day. If you are on a road trip through Croatia by car, check out nearby accommodation deals at Booking.com.

Several tours run from Split and Zadar to Krka National Park.

Stop 4: Brodarica and Šibenik

🚗 Motorhome Stop: Autocamp Venera

📏 Driving distance: Krka NP to Brodarica: 16km

Brodarica

We parked our motorhome at a shady campsite at Brodarica, about 7 km from Sibenik. Brodarica is a peaceful area with rocky beaches and shorelines.

There is a lovely walk along the water’s edge, and you can also cycle from here to Sibenik. Just be careful of the prolific spiky sea urchins in the ocean.

We cycled into Sibenik because many locals told us it was magnificent. However, the outskirts were quite shabby, and we hadn’t researched it before we went, so we didn’t get to see the two UNESCO sites it is famed for.

One is the Cathedral of St. James, built entirely of stone and featuring a frieze of 71 sculptured faces.

The second is the Fortress of St. Nicholas, a triangular-shaped fortress used to guard the city.

Šibenik

We had a short walk through the streets of Sibenik. We found an interesting park where you could walk around the Church of Gospe van Grada, which had a fountain with what we thought were plastic turtles, but indeed, they weren’t.

They were real.

Stop 5: Trogir

🚗 Motorhome Stop: Kamp Rožac

📏 Driving distance: Brodarica to Trogir: 53km

Trogir is only about a half-hour drive from Split. The UNESCO old town is on a small island accessed by a bridge and includes Romanesque churches and Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

The most visited sight in Trogir is the Cathedral of St.Lawrence, completed in 1250. The Cathedral’s bell tower (47 metres tall) offers great views from the top.

On the city’s southern side, remnants of the old city walls, built in the 14th century, and the city gate, built in 1593, are visible. 

Walking around the town, the medieval buildings take you back in time, and then, as you step back onto the mainland, you are gently pulled back to the present day.

Take a relaxing stroll along the palm-lined promenade with a gelato in hand and soak in Trogir’s charm.

🏨 →  Find Trogir Accommodation here  ← 🏨

Stop 6: Split

🚗 Motorhome Stop: Camp Biokovo

📏 Driving distance: Trogir to Split: 27km

Split was a complete surprise to us. Arriving in our motorhome by ferry from Italy, this was our first visit to Croatia, and Split was absolutely nothing like we had envisioned.

High-rise apartments and an old town bustling with tourists were not an image we had conjured up of this once war-torn country.

There is plenty to see and do here, depending on your budget. As low-budget travellers, we wandered the old town among the labyrinth of passageways, overshadowed by the impressive UNESCO Diocletian’s Palace, where much of the city’s life is centred.

Shops, cafes, bars, and homes all create the modern hub of activity alongside the walls of this historical Roman site.

You could wander these narrow streets, peruse the markets and watch the world go by in the numerous cafes … or just a short stroll away, you can escape into nature.

On the city’s western side, there are numerous trails and walks in the Marjan Forest Nature Reserve. Here, with a walk through pine forests and a climb up numerous steps, you are treated to fantastic views across Split.

Around Marjan Park, which hugs the shoreline, there are several little coves where you can swim in the clear, pristine waters.

Tickets and Tours in Split

There are Split walking tours, Game of Thrones tours and plenty more to choose from.

Accommodation in Split, Croatia

If you want accommodation in Split, check out the available deals here.

Stop 7: Dubrovnik

🚗 Motorhome Stop: Camping Matkovica

📏 Driving distance: Split to Dubrovnik: 232km

We caught a boat from our motorhome campsite at Matovica and arrived at the old port of Dubrovnik. It seemed appropriate to arrive by sea.

Yes, we are Game of Thrones fans, so landing at the fictional fortified city of ‘King’s Landing’ did give us a slight thrill.

The old city walls and glimpses of familiar scenes from Game of Thrones are certainly big attractions of this well-visited city.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to arrive early (as we normally like to do when we visit high tourist areas) and so were caught up in a huge wave of tourists.

Wandering around an ancient city never seems quite so enthralling when you are shoulder to shoulder with an unfamiliar crowd. I like to have some quiet contemplation and imagine what life was like when these ancient ramparts were buzzing with life.

It was not so easy to do with a throng of eager visitors all vying for the perfect selfie pose. Nevertheless, the old town of Dubrovnik was intriguing.

One of the most popular attractions is walking the city walls, which takes about an hour. We recommend doing this activity either early morning or late afternoon rather than in the heat of the day.

Noon is the best time to listen to the ancient bell of the clock tower – you’ll hear the chimes played by the two bronze bell strikers, known locally as Maro and Baro.

Dubrovnik Tickets and Tours

A popular day trip by bus from Dubrovnik is to Kotor in neighbouring Montenegro. If you take this bus from Dubrovnik, the best views are on the right, according to travel blogger Cassie, who outlines what to expect on the Kotor to Dubrovnik bus. 

—> Check out the many tours and ticket deals for Dubrovnik here:

Croatia Road Trip: Detour to Mostar in ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina’

🚗 Motorhome Stop: Auto River Camp Buna – Half Island (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

📏 Driving distance: Split to Dubrovnik: 232km

Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is only about two and a half hours from Split. It is the perfect detour on your Croatia road trip.

We stayed at a great campsite with a particularly friendly owner who will drive you to Mostar and pick you up when ready.

Mostar’s main attraction is the photographic Stari Most, the UNESCO old bridge that spans the Neretva River. Divers will tout for money whilst standing on the bridge for you to see them jump into the depths below.

The old town has narrow cobblestone streets lined with cafes and gift shops. Further out from the old town, derelict, bullet-ridden buildings stand as stark reminders of the Bosnia War (1991-95).

Despite its history, Mostar has plenty of interesting things to see and do. We joined an interesting walking tour to ensure we didn’t miss anything.

What is the Best Time Of Year To Visit Croatia?

The best time to visit Croatia is in the shoulder-season months of May / June and September/ October. We were there in early June, and the weather was warm and perfect for swimming in the sea.

The crowds had just begun to swell, but it wasn’t too busy.

In contrast, the peak seasons of July and August see the coastal resorts packed with tourists. The temperatures increase, along with accommodation prices.

In the low season, November to April, many hotels and attractions along the coast close down for winter. The weather is then more unpredictable and colder.

However, this is the perfect time to avoid crowds and to get great deals on flights and accommodation. We chose the offseason to visit the Greek Island Santorini in winter, and it was amazing to have this tourist haven almost to ourselves.

Advice For Campervanning and Motorhoming in Croatia

There are over 300 motorhome and campervan stops around Croatia, many of which are on the Adriatic coast and a short distance from the beach.

We recommend Camper Contact for finding suitable stops for your motorhome tour of Croatia, or you can visit this Croatian camping site. 

The standard of sites we stayed at was good, and many are privately run, so they want good feedback. If you are motorhoming in Croatia in summer, we recommend finding campsite sites with plenty of shade.

Can You Wild Camp in Croatia?

Wild camping and overnight parking in your motorhome or campervan in Croatia are strictly forbidden, and you can be fined around 400 euros if you overnight outside of a specified campsite.

Motorhoming Croatia: Good to Know

1. Our Top 3 Picks: Places Not To Miss

• Krka National Park
• Plitvice National Park
• Split

2. Useful Tips for Croatia

• The currency used in Croatia is Kuna.
• The emergency number is 112
• Basic words: Dober dan (Good day), Hvala (Thank you), Da (Yes), Ne (No)

3. Motorhome / Campervan Rental: Croatia Road Trip

For motorhome/ campervan rental we recommend the Motorhome Republic as they were so helpful to us and find the best deal in the country you require your campervan or motorhome.

If you are driving a motorhome for the first time, check out our post, Motorhome Tips for Beginners

4. Rental Car for a Croatia Road Trip

For car rentals, check out the best prices here.

More Ideas For Campervanning In Europe

This Croatia motorhome adventure was just one chapter of our extensive 12-month European campervan journey. For a comprehensive guide, check out our Europe in a Campervan post.

It includes valuable travel tips, a detailed account of our route (complete with an interactive map), insights into the campsites we stayed at, and highlights of the attractions we visited.

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Motorhoming in Croatia … That’s A Wrap

Reflecting on our motorhome journey through Croatia, it’s clear that this country offers a diverse range of wonderful experiences, from serene natural landscapes to the remnants of historical tumult. As we’ve said before, we had the best time here.

Each destination, from Split to Dubrovnik, brought unique stories and scenery. We’ve created this guide to share our adventures and help you plan a smooth and memorable road trip.

Whether it’s your first time driving a motorhome or you’re a seasoned traveller, Croatia’s rich history, stunning coastlines, and welcoming culture will surely make some fantastic travel memories.

Have you visited Croatia before? Any recommendations you can share? We’d love to hear from you.

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