Famous road · 13 km off the route
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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.
Most of it is one road: the A1 carries 93% of the distance. You pass Karlovac and Šibenik on the way.
There's real climbing in this one: the road gets up to roughly 723 m, with something like 1,419 m of ascent over the whole drive. The Adriatic Highway (D8 / Jadranska magistrala) is 13 km off the route if you have time for a detour.
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.
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 kmKarlovac34 min in
- 333 kmŠibenik3 h 40 min ingood place to stop
- 410 kmSplit
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- A1380 km · 93%
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.
Best stops between Zagreb and Split
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
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.
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.
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.
Which roads do you take from Zagreb to Split?
The fastest route uses the A1 (about 380 km). It passes Karlovac, Šibenik.
Where should I stop on the way from Zagreb to Split?
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 Split?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Zadar Sea Organ, Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica National Park: see the full list of 5 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.