Our first trip to Croatia - overnights between Plitvice-Split, and Split-Dubrovnik?

Hi, I'm looking for advice on places to stay, and reasonable travel times between Brac and DBV airport. This is our first time in Croatia, and have a mid-range budget -- we're not jet setters but not students either.

On Friday June 6, we're leaving Dubrovnik in our rental car, and have until Sunday evening when we meet friends on Brac after taking the ferry from Split. We plan to use this time to see Plitvice. We're wondering about suggested driving routes and places to stay for these two nights, given that we have about 55 hours. We're strongly leaning towards making the trip to Plitvice but would consider other places given that we need to get between Dubrovnik and Brac in this time frame. Any thoughts?

Once we arrive on Brac Sunday evening we have until Wednesday afternoon, when our flight (Dubrovnik-Geneva) leaves at 1:30pm. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time to stay on Brac Tuesday night -- does anyone have suggestions on where to spend Tuesday night, somewhere between Split and Dubrovnik?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Consider going to Krka National Park (entrance Skradin) instead of Plitvice (1:15 h driving from Split instead of 3,5h, and 30 euros vs. 90 euros for petrol and toll costs both ways - use viamichelin.com for calculations). In that way, you can make it a day trip from Split. Otherwise it is too far to go to Plitvice from Dbk and back to Split, you will be driving to much. Trogir and Šibenik are nice medieval towns not too far from Split, if you are interested in sights.

For your return, Makarska (middle-sized town, good beaches) is three hours driving from Dubrovnik, so if you stay there (or in some smaller place - there are myriad of little villages with great beaches along Makarska riviera) for the night, you have to depart at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning in order to get to your flight on time. There is ferry from Sumartin on the island of Brač to Makarska, so you can bypass Split. Theoretically, you could take the 6 a.m. ferry on Wednesday morning, but since Sumartin is on the far east side of the island, and supposedly you will be more towards the west (Supetar? Bol?), you would need to get up really early (4 a.m.) and run the risk of something getting wrong. But you can spend the good part of Tuesday with your friends on Brač, drive one hour or less to Sumartin, get 18:30 ferry, and have a nice dinner or even party in Makarska on Tuesday evening.

Also, when you will be going from Dubrovnik to Split (Friday), you can stop at Cetina river valley/canyon (Blato na Cetini, Omiš), if you like nature (they have zipline there) and like to taste lamb in a domestic, hinterland ambiance.
Therefore, you can spend two nights in Split, to avoid too much changing accomodations (Friday: Dbk to Split via Cetina canyon; Saturday: day trip to Krka NP, late afternoon visit to Šibenik or Trogir can be included; Sunday: exploring Split, taking ferry to Brač).

Thank you very much for the replies - very helpful.

Hiya Nemo_Dat
I have just returned from Croatia. I spent a week in Split with 2 days visiting Krka and Plitvice.
I have to be honest and say that I think Krka is better.
There are currently a lot of roadworks going on south of Plitvicve which as drivers caused us a lot of problems. Some of the temporary surfaces were just mud and it was raining hard.
Roads affected: 1, 25, 522. Poor surfaces and traffic lights everywhere.
The A1 toll road is a dream though. virtually empty most of the time.

The problem I had with Plitvice is that it isn't managed like Krka. What I mean is that there are spectacular views that you cannot photograph as there are always trees in the way.
The few viewpoints that have nothing restricting your view were so coveted that you would queue, take a photo and then were obliged to move.
Yes it is stunning and yes it is busy.

I loved Plitvice but I think Krka is better, easier, cheaper and much more accessible from Split.
Approx 1hr 15mins compared to over 4 hours from Plitvice.

SkandaFive, thanks for this, it's very timely, useful information to have. I was having some second thoughts on not going to Plitvice but I'm feeling much better after your post. Thanks again.

BTW, any suggestions on places to stay/see around Split?

We stayed in Podstrana, just south of Split.
Our hotel was called Beach Hotel Split. 4 Stars. Very nice rooms and staff are warm and charming.
I will be going back there.