We'll be a group of 8 50something adults in 2 cars driving from Dubrovnik up to Plitvice Lakes National Park, which seems to be about a 5 hour drive. We thought it would be nice to see some of the beautiful coast along the way. The first option that popped up was to stop at Split for lunch and some light sightseeing. I do wonder if parking 2 cars there would make this difficult. That begs the question...is there something else along the drive that we could see that might be less hectic and complicated for parking cars? We'll have spent several days in Dubrovnik so maybe Split might be a bit similar anyway. I do understand there are likely many things to see along that route, just looking for a suggestion for something that stands out for a few hours. Would love your input.

I can't answer your questions about partking, but perhaps a few other comments will help you plan:

If your driving time estimate comes from google maps (which seems consistent with your estimate), note that IME, google maps underestimates times in that area by at least 25% -- even if you specify the start time and day of week correctly.

Split is extraordinary, but IMO, it bears little similarity to Dubrovnik. Split's architectural legaciy is Roman, transformed through the middle ages, etc. In contrast, Dubrovnik shows its Venetian architectural legacy.

If Split doesn't suit, you might look at options in Trogir or Zadar (though I assume you would have to park nearby in each case) or at Sibenik. Trogir is the only one of those that I would think you could "see" in just a few hours, though you could see a few things of interest in any of them should you choose to do so.

Original post disappeared...so let me try this again.

Good point on using Google Maps - which I did. We'll factor in a bit more driving time.

My thought about parking is that I'm reading Split is really busy and hard to find parking, especially in late May when we'll be there. I'm reading there is a decent parking garage but it's a 30-minute walk to old town. Trying to figure out if we want to spend an hour walking just to get to old town, knowing that we'll also have a decent drive we're doing that day. Trying to determine if it's better to see something less congested along the route between Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes than Split.

Understood! That's why I mentioned some alternatives.

Of the three, Sibenik is a *bit* off the beaten path as many favor Zadar, Krka National Park, or Split over it. Does not mean it doesn't get busy, but might be a viable option depending on the interests of the 8 of you. It is sometimes a cruise stop, so check schedules.

I will say I was there while there were 2 ships in port in September 2022. I imagine most may have gone to Krka, but the town handled the traffic fairly well. It was busy, but not stifling.

There are parking lots close to the bus station in Split (a short walk to the old town) and also street parking that is way closer than 30 minutes, though it would be a bit of a pain with two cars. Would I do it for a short period? Probably not. Trogir is a good option. Or you could stop in Omiš which has fewer buildings of importance but is stunning visually. You could then stop for lunch with a view at someplace like Bajso - https://www.bajso.com/en

The drive from Dubrovnik to Split is lovely on its own, you could pack a picnic as there are some roadside tables. Makarska is nice for a quick stop too.

Thank you all for the ideas...very helpful.