Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	May 04, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	DOVER MOTORSPORTS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001017673
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Common Stock | Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,261,725
Common Stock | Class A Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,509,975