Best River and Lake Campsites in Croatia 2027

River and lake campsites in Croatia are for people who have had enough of towel-to-towel beaches. You swim in clear water under the trees, and at night you sleep under a blanket. Almost 90% of Croatian campsites are on the coast or the islands, according to the Croatian Camping Union, so the inland is still quiet. The best picks for 2027 are Kamp Slapić on the Mrežnica for families, Kamp Korana for visiting Plitvice and Camping Peruća for low-cost tent camping by a lake. This guide is for families, caravanners and anyone driving to the coast via Karlovac or the Dalmatian hinterland. We compared seven river and lake campsites by swimming, facilities, dog rules and nightly price. Price lists for 2027 have not been published yet, so we give 2026 season prices as a guide.

Quick Overview: river and lake campsites in Croatia

Prices are for high season 2026, 2 adults, a car and a pitch, without tourist tax unless stated otherwise.

Prices marked ACSI are guide prices from the 2026 ACSI guide and include electricity. The campsite's official price list always takes precedence.

1. Kamp Slapić, Duga Resa (Mrežnica)

Photo: Kamp Slapić, campslapic.hr

Slapić is a four-star campsite on the Mrežnica, about ten kilometres from Karlovac, and the best known of all river campsites in inland Croatia. Inside the camp there is a river beach with small travertine waterfalls and islets, plus an outdoor pool, so children can choose between the river and chlorine. It has 100 marked pitches of 90 to 120 m² with electricity and water, four air-conditioned mobile homes and seven wooden tents with terraces above the river. In summer the Mrežnica warms up to over 24 °C in places.

The price list is simple: €10 per adult, €8 per car, €9 per tent, €10 per caravan and €6 a day for electricity. Two adults with a tent and a car pay €37, or about €44 a night with a caravan and electricity, plus €1.40 tourist tax per person. Dogs are allowed for €3 a day, and the camp has a dog beach. Canoes, kayaks and SUP boards are for hire (SUP €12 for 2 hours).

Pros: own beach on the Mrežnica with small waterfalls, pool and river in one place, close to the A1 motorway and Karlovac

Cons: among the more expensive on this list, crowded river beach in summer because of weekend day-trippers

Our opinion: If you go to a river campsite with children only once, make it Slapić. It is run like a good coastal campsite, except that instead of the sea you have a river flowing over little waterfalls. For July, book a riverside pitch early, because those go first.

2. Kamp Korana, Rakovica (Plitvice Lakes National Park)

Photo: Plitvice Lakes National Park, np-plitvicka-jezera.hr

Kamp Korana is run by the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a public institution that also runs Kamp Borje. It is 6 km from Entrance 1. Its 35 hectares of forest and meadows hold around 2,500 campers, 47 wooden bungalows and a 400-seat restaurant serving Lika food. A shuttle bus takes guests to the park, so the car can stay at the camp. The site lies along the Korana canyon, but there is no swimming area at the camp, and swimming in the Plitvice lakes themselves is banned by park rules.

The official price list is not published on the park website. The 2026 ACSI guide price is €72.50 for two people, a caravan, a car and electricity in high season. Until 31 October 2026 the park offers 35% off camping at Korana and Borje. Guests staying at least two nights can extend their park ticket free of charge for every day of their stay, and an adult day ticket costs €40 in summer.

Pros: closest large campsite to Plitvice with transport to the park, lots of shade and large pitches, park ticket valid for your whole stay

Cons: no swimming at the camp, big and busy, most guests stay only one or two nights

Our opinion: Korana is not a swimming campsite, it is a base for Plitvice. If you stay two nights or more, the free ticket extension saves you the park tickets for the extra days (€40 per adult per day in summer). For a swim, drive to Slunj, where you can bathe in the Korana.

3. Camping Peruća, Vrlika (Lake Peruća)

Photo: Camping Peruća, perucacamping.com

Of all the river and lake campsites here, Peruća is the furthest south. It is a reservoir on the Cetina river in the Dalmatian hinterland, between the Dinara and Svilaja mountains. Camping Peruća has 4 hectares of grass and woodland with 63 places, and you choose your own pitch. The camp has its own beach on a calm, clear lake, and guests come for SUP, kayaking, fishing and hiking. Lighting is kept to a minimum on purpose, so the night sky is full of stars.

With a tent, this is the cheapest campsite on the list (€25 with electricity). In high season (1 July - 15 September 2026) a car, a tent and two people pay €25, and a caravan or motorhome €30, electricity included. Tourist tax is €0.74 per person per day and a dog costs €2.50. There is no restaurant or shop at the camp: the nearest shop is 3.4 km away and Vrlika is 5 km.

Pros: one of the lowest prices on the list, with electricity included, own beach on the lake, peace and untouched nature

Cons: no restaurant or shop on site, basic infrastructure and self check-in

Our opinion: Peruća is for people who want silence at a campsite, not entertainment. Bring food for a few days and a SUP if you have one. When you tire of the lake, Split and the sea are an hour's drive away.

4. Kamp odmorište Sabljaci, Ogulin (Lake Sabljaci)

Photo: Kamp odmorište Sabljaci, kamp-odmoriste-sabljaci.hr

Unlike the large river campsites, Sabljaci is a small camper stop on the lake of the same name, 4 km from Ogulin and close to the A1 motorway. It has 26 pitches of 50 m², all with electricity, water and drainage. The lake beach is step-free, with showers and a separate dog beach 200 metres away. The lake is good for SUP and windsurfing, and fishing permits are sold at the camp.

There is no official price list online. The 2026 ACSI guide price is €26.50 for two people, a caravan, a car and electricity in high season. The camp is open all year. There is no restaurant, but there is a covered terrace with a barbecue, and Ogulin with its Frankopan castle and views of Klek mountain is 4 km away.

Pros: lake for swimming and SUP a few steps away, every pitch fully serviced, open all year

Cons: small camp with no restaurant, little shade on the pitches

Our opinion: Sabljaci is the best stopover on the way to the coast. Arrive in the afternoon, swim in the lake, carry on in the morning. For a week in summer there is not enough shade, so bring an awning.

5. Camp Zagreb, Rakitje (Lake Rakitje)

Photo: Camp Zagreb, campzagreb.com

Of the river and lake campsites on this list, Camp Zagreb is the closest to the capital. It is next to Lake Rakitje in Sveta Nedelja, about 15 minutes' drive from Zagreb. It has 49 pitches, bungalows with a kitchen, sauna or hot tub, and a glamping tent. There is a restaurant with traditional food and a wellness area. Swimming in the lake is allowed at your own risk, kayaks are €6 an hour and boats €8.

According to the official 2025 price list, two adults and a B or C pitch in high season (16 June - 15 September) pay €49, plus €2.12 tourist tax, while the 2026 ACSI price is €45.12. Dogs are welcome at the camp and in the restaurant, but not in the accommodation units. The camp is open all year, so it also works for a winter city break with a motorhome.

Pros: lake and Zagreb in one trip, open all year with restaurant and wellness, dogs welcome even in the restaurant

Cons: pitches are close together, the lake is recreational and not as clear as karst rivers

Our opinion: Camp Zagreb is the choice when you want to see Zagreb without sleeping in the city. For summer swimming the Mrežnica campsites are better, but in spring and autumn it is hard to find a nicer campsite near the capital.

6. Camp Rastoke, Slunj (Slunjčica and Korana)

Photo: Camp Rastoke, camp-rastoke.net

Among river and lake campsites near Plitvice, Camp Rastoke is a young one that is still being built up. It sits on the edge of Slunj, a kilometre from Rastoke, where the Slunjčica flows over waterfalls into the Korana. It has 25 motorhome pitches of 100 m² with electricity and water and 25 tent pitches in the shade of pine trees. There is a pool on site, the river is about 300 m away and the nearest swimming spot about 1 km. Plitvice Lakes are 25 km away, and nearby you will find rafting, kayaking, the Barać caves and a zipline.

The camp's website quotes "from €22" a night for a pitch and one person, and the final price for two is given through the booking form. It is open all year, and dogs on a lead are allowed. There is no restaurant on site, but the nearest one is 200 metres away and Slunj centre is 500 metres.

Pros: walk to Rastoke and Slunj centre, pool and pine shade, open all year as a base for Plitvice

Cons: not right on the riverbank, young campsite with some facilities still being built

Our opinion: Rastoke is a good compromise between Plitvice and swimming. In the morning you go to the national park, in the afternoon to the pool, and in the evening you walk to the old mills on the Slunjčica. Check the price for two in advance, because the website shows only the starting rate.

7. Camping Two Rivers, Karlovac (Dobra and Kupa)

Photo: Camping Two Rivers, tworivers.hr

The smallest of the seven river campsites on the list is Two Rivers, a small camp in Gornje Pokupje on the Dobra river, a kilometre upstream from where the Dobra joins the Kupa. It has only 16 pitches of about 85 m² with electricity and water, so it stays quiet even in August. You swim in the Dobra next to the camp, without a built beach, and kayaks and bikes are for hire. The Zagreb - Rijeka motorway exit is 6 km away.

The 2026 ACSI guide price is €24 for two people, a caravan, a car and electricity in high season, which puts it among the cheapest river and lake campsites in Croatia. There is no restaurant or pool, but a bakery and a shop are nearby. The camp is open from April to the end of October.

Pros: river right next to the pitches, among the cheapest on the list, ideal overnight stop on the way to the coast

Cons: only 16 places so booking is essential, no restaurant or pool

Our opinion: Two Rivers is a small, quiet campsite with a river in front of your pitch. For a week's holiday there is not much to do, but for two nights on the way to the Adriatic you will struggle to find better value and calm.

Three more waterside campsites worth knowing

• Kamp Vransko jezero Crkvine, Pakoštane: pitches on the shore of Croatia's largest natural lake (30.16 km²), with the sea 3 km away. In 2026 two people and a pitch pay €49 plus €3 tax, and a pitch right on the lake €70. It is not on the main list because it is geographically on the Dalmatian coast.
• Camping Village Zrmanja, Obrovac: a campsite that is part of a rafting centre, with a pool, restaurant and mobile homes. It is not right on the Zrmanja, and prices are not published.
• Eko kamp odmorište Brig, Duga Resa: Slapić's neighbour right on the Mrežnica, with 10 pitches, a restaurant and SUP. A quieter alternative, but with no public price list.

How to choose a river or lake campsite

River and lake campsites differ more than coastal ones, so first decide whether you want swimming at the camp itself. Of the seven on this list, Slapić, Peruća, Sabljaci and Camp Zagreb have proper swimming, and Two Rivers has natural river access. Korana and Rastoke are bases for day trips, not beach camps.

Second, check the water temperature, because river and lake campsites fed by cold springs are not ideal for small children. In summer the Mrežnica reaches over 24 °C in places, and the Korana has the Foginovo bathing area in Karlovac. The upper Kupa is cold, at about 7 °C at its source. Lakes have no current, so they are calmer for small children.

Third, work out the full price. Campsite price lists often charge separately for each person, car, tent and electricity, and the tourist tax comes on top. The ACSI CampingCard discount applies only outside the main season, so in July and August you pay the standard rate.

Finally, do not camp outside a campsite. Wild camping in Croatia is banned by the Hospitality Act, and the fine for an individual is €190 to €1,320. A tourist inspector can instead collect a €130 fine on the spot.

For gear, see our guide to the best camping tents and the list of camping gear. If you prefer the sea, there are glamping campsites on the coast.

Conclusion

In summer, river and lake campsites in Croatia offer what the coast in July usually lacks: shade, and a pitch where the neighbours are not a metre away. Inland Croatia recorded only 4.4 million (including Zagreb) of the 104.9 million overnight stays from January to September 2026, according to the Croatian National Tourist Board, so it is much quieter than the coast even in July.

If river and lake campsites appeal to you, watch the price lists for summer 2027 from February and book riverside pitches by spring, because these camps have far fewer places than the big coastal sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best campsite near Plitvice Lakes?

Kamp Korana is the closest large campsite, 6 km from Entrance 1, with a shuttle bus to the park and a restaurant. Guests staying at least two nights can extend their park ticket free of charge for every day of their stay. If you also want a pool, Camp Rastoke in Slunj is 25 km from the park and open all year.

Can you swim in the Mrežnica, Korana and Kupa rivers?

Yes. In summer the Mrežnica reaches over 24 °C in places and has swimming spots near Duga Resa, including the beach at Kamp Slapić. The Korana in Karlovac has the Foginovo bathing area. The upper Kupa is cold, about 7 °C at its source, and warms up further downstream.

How much does a night at a river campsite in Croatia cost?

Many smaller river and lake campsites are cheaper than large coastal ones. For two people with a car and a pitch in high season 2026, prices range from €24-30 at smaller camps (Two Rivers, Peruća) to €44 at Slapić and €49 at Camp Zagreb (2025 price list). Kamp Korana by Plitvice costs about €72.50 with electricity according to ACSI. Tourist tax is charged on top.

Is wild camping allowed in Croatia?

No. The Hospitality Act bans camping outside campsites and areas designated by local authorities. The fine for an individual is €190 to €1,320, and an inspector can collect it on the spot as €130. The exception is organised camping, such as scouts or canoe tours, at designated sites.

When is the best time for river camping?

River and lake campsites are best for swimming in July and August, when the rivers and lakes warm up enough. June and September are quieter and cheaper, and the water in the Mrežnica and the lakes is still pleasant. Camp Zagreb, Sabljaci and Rastoke are open all year, so they also work in spring and autumn.

Are river campsites suitable for families with children?

Yes, river and lake campsites are great for children if you choose one with a proper beach and a playground. Slapić has a river beach, a pool and a playground, and lakes Sabljaci and Peruća have calm water with no current. Children always need supervision by a river, because the bottom is rocky and the current is fast in places.

How we chose

According to the Croatian Camping Union, almost 90% of campsites are on the coast or islands and only the rest by rivers and lakes, so the choice is limited. We picked them by access to water and swimming, facilities, pet rules, season and nightly price. We checked the details on the campsites' official websites, the Plitvice Lakes National Park website, the Croatian Camping Union and ACSI in October 2026. Where a campsite does not publish a price list, we give the 2026 ACSI guide price and say so clearly. We did not visit the campsites for this article. Cover photo: Alexey Wineman, Pexels.

Sources and references

1. Kamp Slapić - prices and information: campslapic.hr
2. Plitvice Lakes National Park - Kamp Korana: np-plitvicka-jezera.hr
3. Plitvice Lakes National Park - visitor rules: np-plitvicka-jezera.hr
4. Camping Peruća: perucacamping.com
5. Kamp odmorište Sabljaci: kamp-odmoriste-sabljaci.hr
6. Camp Zagreb - price list: campzagreb.com
7. Camp Rastoke: camp-rastoke.net
8. Camping Two Rivers: tworivers.hr
9. ACSI Eurocampings - Croatia: eurocampings.co.uk
10. Croatian Camping Union: camping.hr
11. Hospitality Act (Zakon o ugostiteljskoj djelatnosti): zakon.hr
12. Visit Karlovac - four rivers: visitkarlovac.hr

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