Parks Manager

National parks near Bjelovar, Bjelovar-Bilogora

Plitvice Lakes National Park is the closest national park to Bjelovar, Bjelovar-Bilogora — 152 km (94.2 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 41 min behind the wheel.

Plitvice Lakes makes a full day trip — leave early. Risnjak, Northern Velebit, Paklenica, Krka, Triglav, Kornati, Brijuni, Berchtesgaden, and Mljet are better with a night booked nearby.

Bjelovar has a population of about 24,392.

National parks near Bjelovar

Parks ranked by distance from Bjelovar
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Plitvice Lakes National Park152 km (94.2 mi)2 hr 41 minDoable as a day trip
Risnjak National Park179 km (112 mi)3 hr 5 minBest as a weekend
Northern Velebit National Park197 km (122 mi)3 hr 21 minBest as a weekend
Paklenica National Park206 km (128 mi)3 hr 29 minBest as a weekend
Krka National Park237 km (147 mi)3 hr 56 minBest as a weekend
Triglav National Park238 km (148 mi)3 hr 57 minBest as a weekend
Kornati National Park262 km (163 mi)4 hr 18 minBest as a weekend
Brijuni National Park264 km (164 mi)4 hr 20 minBest as a weekend
Berchtesgaden National Park348 km (216 mi)5 hr 34 minBest as a weekend
Mljet National Park349 km (217 mi)5 hr 35 minBest as a weekend

When to make this trip

Plitvice Lakes National Park is generally best May, June, September, and early October, with April and late October as the quieter shoulder either side.

Winter is cool and wet at low elevation and snowy in the mountains, with reduced hut and refuge service.

July and August combine peak heat with peak domestic holidays. Shoulder months are both cooler and quieter.

Month-by-month detail for Plitvice Lakes National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Bjelovar are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near Bjelovar
PairApartEstimated drive
Plitvice Lakes → Northern Velebit49.5 km (30.7 mi)1 hr 5 min
Northern Velebit → Paklenica56.3 km (35 mi)1 hr 12 min
Plitvice Lakes → Paklenica61.3 km (38.1 mi)1 hr 18 min
Paklenica → Krka64.9 km (40.3 mi)1 hr 21 min

Planning a trip from Bjelovar

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the Plitvice Lakes National Park guide

Other towns in Grad Bjelovar

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Bjelovar?

Plitvice Lakes National Park. It is about 152 km (94.2 mi) from Bjelovar, roughly 2 hr 41 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Bjelovar?

Yes — Plitvice Lakes National Park is within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near Bjelovar?

10 parks are within reach of Bjelovar, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Bjelovar?

For Plitvice Lakes National Park, the closest one, generally May, June, September, and early October. Either side of that, April and late October stays quieter.