Day by day, with short driving days for families.
A road trip with children stands or falls with short driving days and enough time for swimming and playing. On this route, you therefore see per day where you drive, sleep and what you can do.
Compiled and checked by Arjan (Zuidlaren) · Sources are in the text · updated 20 October 2026 · About this page
A route of 10 to 14 days from north to south and back, with a few fixed locations instead of continuing every day (our assessment). Check the travel times in your route planner.
Tagesplan
Istria, for example near Poreč: beach, Istralandia and a day on Brijuni.
🎟️ Tours: GetYourGuide: Brijuni · GetYourGuide: Porec
🛏️ Nights 1–4 (Poreč): our tip: Apartments Villa Merci Porec → View rooms on Booking.com
Plitvice: get in early with a timed online ticket.
🎟️ Tours: Viator: Plitvice ticket · Viator: Plitvice tour
🛏️ Nights 5–6 (Plitvice): our tip: House Tina → View rooms on Booking.com
North Dalmatia: Zadar, Paklenica and Krka.
🎟️ Tours: Viator: Kornati · GetYourGuide: Krka National Park · GetYourGuide: Paklenica
🛏️ Nights 7–10 (Zadar): our tip: Luxury rooms Zadar old town → View rooms on Booking.com
return to the north via Kvarner (Krk).
🎟️ Tours: GetYourGuide: Krk
🛏️ Nights 11–14 (Krk): our tip: Hotel Park Punat → View rooms on Booking.com
Overnight stay
Location: Istria Species: Camping
Istria has many large campsites with pools and entertainment, such as Bijela Uvala near Poreč. Handy with children, but in July and August pricier and busier, in our estimation.
Also via Official website
Ad · affiliate linkLocation: Plitvice Lakes Species: Camping
The National Park has its own campsite, Camp Korana, not far from the lakes. So you are early at the entrance in the morning before it gets full.
Also via Official website
Ad · affiliate linkLocation: Croatia Species: Minicamping
On the islands and in Dalmatia there are lots of small campsites (mini-camps) in a family’s garden. They’re quieter and often cheaper; you’ll find them on the official camping portal.
Also via Official website
Ad · affiliate linkExcursions
Location: Fažana Species: National Park
By boat from Fažana to the islands of the Brijuni National Park, with a safari park and dinosaur tracks. A real day trip for children.
Also via Official website
Ad · affiliate linkLocation: Brtonigla Species: Wasserpark
Water park in Istria with slides and wave pool. Great as a change from the beach.
Location: Starigrad Species: National Park
A gorge at Starigrad, where you walk on a good path between high rock walls and watch climbers. Start early, because it gets warm there.
Also via Stay nearby on Booking.com
Ad · affiliate linkPreparation
Travel time, best travel time and travel days are our assessment; the distance was calculated with OpenStreetMap from Utrecht to the capital. Check the journey times per stage in your route planner.