Experience the Adriatic with a campervan hire in Split and explore Croatia's stunning coastline, ancient cities, and island-dotted waters. Drive north along the Dalmatian Coast toward Zadar and the Plitvice Lakes, head south to Dubrovnik's walled city and nearby bays, or venture inland to Krka National Park's cascading waterfalls. Choose from Indie Campers' California, Active, or Comfort range, all with unlimited kilometres, flexible one-way options, 24/7 online support, and extras like kitchen kits, outdoor furniture, or beach gear. Backed by a Europe-wide fleet and 4.8-star reviews, Indie Campers makes exploring the Croatian coast simple, comfortable, and unforgettable.
Our Road Trips Itineraries
Split's central position on the Dalmatian coast gives you access to islands, national parks, and historic towns. Here's what you can reach:
The roads vary dramatically. A1 motorway (toll) makes long distances quick. The coastal Magistrala (D8/E65) is slower but stunning—winding clifftop road with constant Adriatic views. Island roads are narrow but well-maintained.
Here's what sets us apart:
May through October is ideal. May, June, September, and early October are especially popular, you get excellent weather without peak July-August crowds and heat. Sea temperatures stay warm through September.
Spring (April to May)
Temperatures: 15-22°C | Sea: 15-18°C
Mild weather, wildflowers blooming, lavender starting to grow on Hvar. Perfect for national parks (Plitvice waterfalls at full flow) and hiking without heat. Fewer tourists—Dubrovnik and coastal towns are manageable. Occasional rain in April. By May, beach weather arrives but sea still cool for swimming.
Best for: National parks, hiking, sightseeing without crowds, exploring islands peacefully, lower campground prices (30-40% less than summer).
Summer (June to August)
Temperatures: 25-32°C | Sea: 23-26°C
Peak season. Split gets crowded—especially July-August when Europeans vacation. Coastal towns (Dubrovnik, Hvar, Trogir) are packed. Ferry reservations essential. Longer days (sunset around 8:30pm) mean extended exploring. Sea is warmest for swimming. Book campgrounds 2-3 weeks ahead. Afternoon heat can be intense—plan morning activities, afternoon beach/rest.
Best for: Beach life, island hopping, swimming, nightlife (Hvar), sailing, warm-water activities, summer festivals (Split Summer Festival, Dubrovnik Summer Festival).
Fall (September to November)
3 to 5 Days
Split and Islands (minimal driving, 3-4 days)
Split to Krka & Šibenik (250km round trip, 4 days)
Makarska Riviera & Biokovo (200km loop, 4 days)
Fuel Stations
Dump Stations
Requirements
Booking
What's Included
Parking in Split
Important: Split's Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) is pedestrian-only. Don't attempt to drive in.
Parking Spinut - Uvala Baluni 8 | €1.50/hour, €18/day | No height limit | 15-min walk to Old Town or bus #17 (€1.20)
Parking Poljud (Stadium) - Ulica Zrinsko Frankopanska | €1/hour, €12/day | Good for campervans | Bus #17 to centre (10 min)
Parking Žnjan - Uvala Žnjan | €1/hour, €15/day | Beach parking lot, height OK | Bus #16 (20 min)
Best strategy: Stay at campground (Stobreč or Split Camping), use buses to city centre. Parking + hassle not worth it.
Croatian Toll System
Motorways (autocesta): A1 is main route, runs Split → Zagreb → Ljubljana. Tolls collected at exit booths.
How it works:
Campervan hire: €700-1,400 (varies by vehicle/season)
Fuel: €150-280 (diesel €1.35-1.50/L, 600-800km typical)
Tolls: €25-70 (depending on routes—coastal is free)
Ferries: €80-180 (if island hopping, 2-4 ferry crossings)
Campgrounds: €175-385 (€25-55/night × 7)
Food: €150-350 (cooking vs restaurants, seafood is pricey)
National Park entries: €40-100 (Plitvice €20-40, Krka €10-20)
Total estimates:
Split → Zagreb (385km, 4 hours via A1) - Drive the full length of coastal Croatia inland to the capital. Most popular routing stops at Plitvice Lakes en route.
Split → Athens (1,100km, 11 hours via A1/E65 through ferry from Split to Igoumenitsa then 470km to Athens) - The ferry route is strongly recommended: Jadrolinija or Minoan Lines operate Split to Igoumenitsa (9-19 hours overnight), then drive south through Epirus and central Greece to Athens.
One-way fees vary.
Split combines Roman history with access to Croatia's best destinations, islands within an hour, waterfalls within 90 minutes, Dubrovnik within three hours. You're not starting in a remote location with limited services. Split has excellent infrastructure, multiple ferry connections, and you can be swimming in Adriatic waters or hiking national parks within an hour.
Most importantly, Split sits at the heart of the Dalmatian coast. Drive north to Zadar and Plitvice, south to Dubrovnik, or island-hop to Hvar, Brač, and Vis. One-way hires mean you can drive the coastline without doubling back.
Over 9,400 travellers hired from Split last year. Find your campervan and start planning your Croatian Adriatic adventure.
Best for: Swimming without crowds, hiking in comfortable temps, wine/olive harvest experiences, lower prices, peaceful island exploration, photography (softer light).
Winter (December to March)
Temperatures: 8-14°C | Sea: 13-14°C
Lowest hire prices (40-50% less). Many coastal campgrounds close. Coastal towns are quiet—some restaurants/shops shut until spring. Plitvice and Krka are beautiful but cold. Occasional bura wind (strong northeast wind) can make coastal driving challenging. Dubrovnik Christmas markets (December). Ski resorts in inland mountains.
Best for: Budget travellers, Dubrovnik without crowds, Plitvice in winter beauty, exploring Split's museums and Diocletian's Palace, skiing in Croatian mountains (Sljeme near Zagreb).
Most popular months: June, September, and October.
7 to 10 Days
Dalmatian Coast Classic (600km, 8 days)
Split → Trogir (27km) → Krka (90km) → Zadar (150km) → Paklenica National Park (40km) → return via Plitvice Lakes (180km inland) → Split (260km)
Split to Dubrovnik Coastal Route (700km round trip, 9 days)
Split → Makarska (80km) → Ploče (60km) → Dubrovnik (100km) → Korčula Island (ferry) → Hvar Island (ferry) → Split
Croatia Highlights (850km, 10 days)
days)Split → Krka → Plitvice Lakes (260km north) → Zadar (130km) → Islands (Brač, Hvar, Vis) → Dubrovnik (230km south) → Split
14+ Days
Grand Croatia Tour (1,400km, 16 days) Split → Dubrovnik → Plitvice → Zagreb → Istria (Rovinj, Pula) → islands → Split
Most travellers find 7-10 days gives the right balance for Split + islands + national parks or Split + coastal drive to Dubrovnik.
Helpful Apps
Budget €0.05-0.07 per miles on motorways.
Coastal road (D8/E65): Free but much slower. Scenic trade-off.
Border Crossings
Split to Dubrovnik: use the Pelješac Bridge (opened 2022), a €10 toll bridge that keeps the route fully within Croatia.
Slovenia: Crossing at Plovanija/Sečovlje. Usually quick. Slovenia requires vignette (highway toll sticker, €15 for 7 days). Buy at border or petrol stations.
Speed Limits
Motorways (A1): 130 km/h
Coastal Road Challenges
D8/E65 Magistrala: Narrow, winding, clifftop road. Beautiful but demanding. Buses and trucks use it too. Pull into viewpoint areas to let faster traffic pass. No guardrails in some sections—drive cautiously.
Hairpin turns: Common on mountain roads (Biokovo, routes to interior). Use low gears, don't ride brakes.
Summer traffic: July-August coastal road gets very congested. Morning drives are easier than afternoon.
Alcohol Limit
0.05% BAC. Fines start at €300 + possible vehicle confiscation. Police checkpoints common summer evenings.
Campervan-Specific
Height: Know your vehicle height (2.7-3.2m typical). Old town gates and some tunnels are low (marked). Ferries have height restrictions but standard campervans always fit.
Parking: Blue zones = paid (buy ticket at machine). Yellow = residents only. White = free but time-limited. Check signs.
Wild camping: Officially prohibited in Croatia. Tolerated in remote areas if discreet (not on beaches or near towns). Better to use campgrounds or ask farmers/landowners. Parks strictly prohibit it—fines €200-500.
Beach parking: Many beaches have height barriers (2.1m) to prevent campervans. Park at designated campervan spots instead.
Narrow villages: Old coastal towns (Trogir, Ston) have extremely narrow streets. Park outside, walk in.
Bura wind: Strong northeast wind, especially winter. Can make driving challenging on coastal roads and bridges. Check forecasts.
Bura wind: Strong northeast wind, especially winter. Can make driving challenging on coastal roads and bridges. Check forecasts.
For most travelers, a special licence is not necessary to hire a campervan in Split. A valid driving licence is required, though, to operate any of our vehicles. If you are a non-EU citizen, an International Driving Permit (IDP) may be required in addition to your home country’s driving licence. Additionally, your licence must match the transmission type of the vehicle (manual or automatic). You can find more details about driving licence requirements here.
Yes, our campervans are pet-friendly. Just be sure to add the extra cleaning service when booking. This ensures a professional anti-allergy cleaning is carried out after your trip. Please note that only one pet is allowed per campervan, and it must not exceed 30kg in weight. Also, we are not liable for any legal fees related to traveling with pets. If you’re booking through our marketplace, check the “vehicle rules” section to confirm if the vehicle is pet-friendly.
The sleeping capacity of our campervans and motorhomes varies depending on the model and size. Our Class C motorhomes can typically accommodate 4 to 8 people, while our Class B campervans can sleep between 2 to 4 people. Vehicles equipped with a rooftop tent generally have space for around 2 people. For a full breakdown of our models and sleeping capacities, click here.
If you're exploring Split in a campervan rental, it's essential to be aware of the country’s official camping regulations. Many natural areas are legally protected, so using designated overnight parking spots or official campsites is strongly recommended. This not only helps preserve the environment but also ensures a safe and enjoyable experience. For more guidance on safety and responsible camping, click here.
We provide three different protection plans to cover any incidents or damages that might occur during your campervan rental. All Indie Campers campervans come with third-party vehicle insurance, and property damage coverage (which varies based on the country). For marketplace rentals, insurance options may differ depending on the host. For further details on campervan insurance, visit this page.
Yes, our search filter makes it easy to rent a campervan close to your location by using a 60km radius system. Depending on where you're searching from, you can quickly find the nearest Indie Campers campervan rental pick-up centre.
Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers RV rentals in Split include unlimited mileage, allowing you to explore freely and make the most of your road trip! Please note that unlimited mileage applies exclusively to Indie Campers RVs and is subject to responsible use.
Our Campervans
“Buenas experiencia 100% recomendable para moverte por Croacia.”
“Wery helpful, explained all, gave suggestions, top notch ”
“Muy recomendable, buena furgo y equipo de entrega y recogida muy amables y dispuestos a ayudar con cualquier cosa ”
