Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 28, 2020
Entity Registrant Name	DOVER MOTORSPORTS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001017673
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $.10 Par Value
Trading Symbol	DVD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Common Stock | Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,862,407
Common Stock | Class A Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,509,975