<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-30</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000313337</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRI CITY BANKSHARES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRCY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219587</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ULRICH AGATHA T 2002 TRUST</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
<reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>c/o Godfrey &amp; Kahn, S.C.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>780 North Water Street</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>Milwaukee</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>53202</rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219585</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAHN GERALD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>780 N. WATER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>AsTrustee of Trust</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9690</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1414947.54</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Distribution from Agatha T. Ulrich 2002 Trust to Agatha T. Ulrich, individually, as beneficiary.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Not applicable.  Transfer of shares from trust to beneficiary.</footnote><footnote id="F3">These shares are owned directly by the Agatha T. Ulrich 2002 Trust and Mr. Gerald J. Kahn is sole trustee.  Mr. Kahn does not beneficially own any shares of stock of the issuer within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(a)(2).  Mr. Kahn disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares.  Share total reflects subsequent reinvestment of dividends, which are exempt from Section 16 reporting pursuant to Rule 16a-11.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kathleen Hayes (pursuant to Power of Attorney attached hereto) for Gerald J. Kahn individually and as Trustee of the Agatha T. Ulrich 2002 Trust</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

