Famous road · 4 km off the route
Biokovo Road to Sveti Jure
- Summit
- 1,762 m summit
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Road trip route · Croatia · Bosnia & Herzegovina
Zagreb to Dubrovnik drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 7 hr 8 min
- Distance
- 606 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €33
- Tolls (est.)
- €16
The Zagreb to Dubrovnik drive
The drive from Zagreb to Dubrovnik covers 377 miles (606 km) and takes about 7 hr 8 min without stops. That's a long day, but doable in one go with a couple of proper breaks. If you'd rather split it, Šibenik is about halfway.
Most of it is one road: the A1 carries 80% of the distance. You pass Karlovac, Šibenik and Solin on the way.
There's real climbing in this one: the road gets up to roughly 1,029 m, with something like 2,022 m of ascent over the whole drive. The Biokovo Road to Sveti Jure is 4 km off the route if you have time for a detour.
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.
At 377 miles this is longer than 89% of the 144 routes covered here, so it is worth treating as a trip in itself rather than a transfer. Split across 2 days it works out at about 3.6 hours behind the wheel each day, which leaves most of the daylight for the places in between.
The road, kilometre by kilometre
Towns within a few kilometres of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping.
- StartZagreb
- 52 kmKarlovac37 min in
- 333 kmŠibenik3 h 55 min ingood place to stop
- 383 kmSolin4 h 31 min in
- 606 kmDubrovnik
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A1484 km · 80%
- D8100 km · 17%
Famous roads on or near the drive
From the 500-plus passes and driving roads drivers collect in the Plan Your Road Trips app. None are on the fastest route, but these are close enough for a detour.
Famous road · 12 km off the route
Adriatic Highway (D8 / Jadranska magistrala)
Best stops between Zagreb and Dubrovnik
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
National Parks
Krka National Park
Stunning travertine waterfalls and emerald pools along the Krka River in Dalmatia.
Waterfalls
Krka Waterfalls
A series of stunning travertine waterfalls along the Krka River where swimming is permitted in the emerald pools below.
Landmarks
Počitelj
A stunning medieval and Ottoman fortified village cascading down a hillside above the Neretva River with a distinctive silo-shaped tower.
Beaches
Makarska
A lively coastal resort town set beneath the dramatic Biokovo mountain backdrop with a beautiful horseshoe-shaped harbor and pebble beaches.
Cathedrals & Temples
Cathedral of St. James, Šibenik
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
Paklenica National Park
Dramatic Velebit canyons and big-wall climbing crags rise straight from the coast near the Maslenica bridge.
Landmarks
Walls of Ston
The 'European Great Wall': 5km of medieval defensive ramparts above salt pans and famed oyster beds.
Famous Roads
Biokovo Road to Sveti Jure
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
Rastoke
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.
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 Dubrovnik FAQs
How long is the drive from Zagreb to Dubrovnik?
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.
How much does it cost to drive from Zagreb to Dubrovnik?
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.
Can I drive from Zagreb to Dubrovnik in one day?
Yes, though it's a long day: about 7 hr 8 min of driving. Plenty of people do it in one go with two or three proper breaks; if you'd rather split it, Šibenik is about halfway.
Which roads do you take from Zagreb to Dubrovnik?
The fastest route uses the A1 (about 484 km), the D8 (about 100 km). It passes Karlovac, Šibenik, Solin.
Where should I stop on the way from Zagreb to Dubrovnik?
If you stop every couple of hours, Šibenik comes up about 4 h in. All are just off the main road.
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 Dubrovnik?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Krka National Park, Krka Waterfalls, Počitelj: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Zagreb & Dubrovnik
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Croatia road trip planner, browse every destination we cover or the Bosnia & Herzegovina planner, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Bosnia & Herzegovina guide.