Lake Bled or Plitvices National Park?

We took a train from Zagreb to Ljubljana and stayed there for 2 nights. It is worth seeing. We rented a car from there and drove to Lake Bled. It is approx. 2 hours. We followed the RS guide and drove up to the Julian Alps which were fantastic. We then drove down to Rovinj with a stop in Piran. From Rovinj (which I recommend highly) we drove to Plitvice. It takes around 4 hours. We then drove to Trogir which is quite close to Split. It is smaller and quieter. It is only 30 minutes or so to Split.

For driving times, I find the following website extremely useful in planning: http://www.viamichelin.com As far as your itinerary goes, since it sounds like you are picking up your car in Zagreb, I would suggest you make your first stop in Lake Bled and then start to work your way south to Plitvice and then Split. This way your car rental will be picked up and d.ropped off all in Croatia, and you won't incur high inter-country d.rop-off fees. (this site isn't letting me use the word d.rop, hence the funny spelling) And I would most definitely try to make it to both if time permits. For more on that, you might want to take a look at this post: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/48487/plitvice-national-park-croatia-or-lake-bled-slovenia.html

Greg, How long from Lake Bled to Rovinj, and how long from Lake Plitvice to Split? Wouldn't it be shorter to go from lake Bled directly to Plitvices, then to Rovinj?
Thanks

Angela, Yes, that's the itinerary I was considering. Any idea of driving times?

Half day, easy, (but on very nice toll roads!) for all these legs. Each place scores over a B+ as far a my experience can offer. But, however though... Plitvice rules!

Do you already have your airfare? We just returned from that same trip about 2 weeks ago. i would start in Ljubljana or Bled, pick up a rental car then drive to Zagreb, Plitvice then on down to Split. That is a more efficient transportation plan. As far as where to go, it depends on your likes and dislikes. We loved Lake Bled! We have two teenagers. so we rode bikes around the lake, rowed, swam, ate, went down the Luge ride, etc... Very relaxing after coming from Venice! The water was beautiful in Lake Bled. Ljubljana was worth a visit, beautiful old town and vibrant in the night time. Plitvice was beautiful! The water and greenery were amazing. It fully met all of my expectations! i have never been anywhere quite like it (even Yosemite.) Split was also nice, although i enjoyed Korcula and Dubrovnik more. Lake Bled is a resort town with a Lake in the center
Plitvice is a National Park (hiking) Which one sounds more like you?

I also recommend via.michelin for routes and times by car. If I had to omit one I would omit Lake Bled since Plitvices and Split are closer and in the same direction. Pete

I would say it is around 5 hours if you do not stop anywhere along the way. You could make it a nice leisurely day and stop at one the 2 caves in Slovenia along the way (Postojna or Skocjan) and then do lunch in Piran. From there, it is a short 2 hours to Rovinj. If you have the time to do this trip it is well worth it. But if you are short of time then go from Bled to Plitvice which would be around 4-5 hours.