Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 20, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	DOVER MOTORSPORTS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001017673
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 34,692,404
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Common Stock | Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,139,819
Common Stock | Class A Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,509,975