Dover, DE Road Trips

As the state capital, the state government is a major employer in Dover and there are many government offices in the area. Dover is also home to Dover Air Force Base, in the southeastern part of the city. Dover Air Force Base is home to the 436th Airlift Wing of the Air Mobility Command and the 512th Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command and contains the largest military mortuary in the United States. As such, there is a sizable military presence in the city. To the west of Dover are rural areas that are home to several Amish families and businesses. To the east of Dover is the Delaware Bay, which is home to marshland and wildlife areas. The city is home to Dover Downs, a hotel and casino that has a harness racetrack located inside Dover Motor Speedway, a 1-mile-long racetrack that is home to a NASCAR race weekend which attracts tens of thousands of race fans to the city. Dover Motor Speedway is also home to the Firefly Music Festival, a 4-day music festival which attracts a large number of visitors to the city. Dover tourism information Dover has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. Summers are hot and humid. The average summer heat index is around 90 °F (32 °C) for daytime highs and 71 °F (22 °C) for nighttime lows. Summer heat indices occasionally rise to around 105 °F (41 °C), with nighttime lows around 78 °F (26 °C). Winters are cool to cold, with highs averaging in the low 40s and lows averaging in the upper 20s F. Winter temperatures can occasionally drop down to 0 degrees or lower.

Dover is home to many attractions including 1 Air Mobility Command Museum, 1301 Heritage Rd, Dover AFB (the museum has its own entrance gate on Rte 9. Just use exit 91 on Rte 1), ☏ +1 302 677-5938. Tu-Su 9AM-4PM. The museum is on the Dover Air Force Base. It is one of the only museums that is dedicated to airlift and air refueling. There are both indoor and outdoor exhibits, an ATC tower, and a 9/11 memorial. Free parking and admission. 2 Biggs Museum of American Art, 406 Federal St, ☏ +1 302 674-2111. Tu–Sa 9AM–4:30PM, Su 1:30–4:30PM. Museum housing a collection of American fine and decorative art, including furniture, paintings, silver, glass, ceramics, and textiles, 1700 to the present day. $10, $8 seniors, children and veterans free. (updated Jul 2017) Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village, 866 N DuPont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 734-1618, fax: +1 302 734-0457. Tu-Sa 10AM-3PM. The agricultural museum, in a historic village set in the 1890s, is dedicated to helping kids remember where we came from. They offer tours for big or small groups. $7, $6 military, $5 seniors and students, $3 children 4-17, children under 4 free. Delaware Public Archives, 121 MLK Jr Blvd N, ☏ +1 302 744-5000. M-F 8:30AM-4PM, 1st Sa of month 1PM-4PM. Public archives allowing for the viewing of historic collections and exhibits. (updated Jan 2026) Delaware State Police Museum, 1425 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 739-7700. M-F 9AM-3PM, 3rd Sa of month 11AM-2:45PM. Museum showcasing the history of the Delaware State Police from 1920, featuring several exhibits.

1 Bally's Dover Casino Resort, 1131 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302-674-4600. The Dover Downs complex consists of a hotel, casino, and a harness racetrack. The hotel offers upscale accommodations with a full-service spa, indoor pool, fitness room, room service, and concierge. Rooms offer either a view of the racetrack or the city and have many amenities including pillow-top bedding, safe, free internet and voicemail, refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, make-up mirror, and an iron and ironing board. Rooms are ADA compliant. The casino offers various games including over 2,300 slots, table games such as baccarat, roulette, and blackjack, and an 18-table poker room. The racetrack offers live harness racing from November to April along with simulcasts of races from other tracks year-round. The Race & Sports Book offers sports betting on horse racing along with professional and college sports. Bally's offers entertainment options ranging from comedians to singers, plus bars and restaurants. The Colonnade offers upscale shopping options including Fashions of the Colonnade, Godiva, Swarovski, The Colonnade Marketplace, and Sweet Perks Too. (updated Mar 2018) 2 Dover Motor Speedway, 1131 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 883-6500, toll-free: +1-800-441-7223. Nicknamed the "Monster Mile", Dover Motor Speedway hosts a NASCAR race weekend in July, featuring the ARCA Menards Series race on Friday, the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, and the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday.

There are several local restaurants in Dover offering a wide range of cuisines. Dover also has many of the typical chain restaurants. 9 East Taphouse, 9 E Loockerman St, ☏ +1 302-744-8061. A spacious, wood-paneled causal American restaurant offering views of Silver Lake. Banquet rooms available. Hollywood Diner, 123 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 734-7462. A classic American diner. Restaurant 55, 2461 S State St, ☏ +1 302 535-8102. American restaurant serving gourmet burgers and a selection of craft brewed ales. Bangkok Thai Cuisine, 266 S Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 736-1606. Restaurant specializing in Thai cuisine. Flavor of India, 348 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 677-0121. Indian restaurant serving exciting dishes and offering unique ambience. Hibachi Japanese Steak House, 691 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 734-5900. Japanese restaurant with food prepared by master chefs. Rice Restaurant, 45 Greentree Dr, ☏ +1 302 678-1328. Restaurant serving Chinese-Japanese fusion cuisine, including sushi. Yukon Korean Barbecue & Sushi Bar, 865 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 734-4100. Asian restaurant serving fresh sushi and other Japanese and Korean dishes. Angelo's Pizza, 20 W Loockerman St, ☏ +1 302 678-9650. Restaurant serving New York-style thin crust pizza. Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, 130 Gateway South Ctr, ☏ +1 302 698-3090. Local sandwich shop chain serving subs and steak sandwiches. The Bobbie sandwich is a local favorite. Grotto Pizza, 1159 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302-678-3278. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-1AM.

Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company, 1284 McD Dr, ☏ +1 302 678-4810. Local brewery offering tours and tastings. 1 The Golden Fleece Tavern, 132 W Loockerman St, ☏ +1 302 674-1776, [email protected]. M-Sa 4PM-1AM, Su noon-1AM. The Golden Fleece Tavern is an historic bar and the site of Delaware's ratification of the Federal Constitution in 1787. Happy hour ($0.75 off all drinks) every day from 4:00-7:00, with free happy hour food on Friday. Often has a DJ or live music. $2.75 domestic drafts, $3.00 domestic bottles, $4.00 cocktails. Harvest Ridge Winery & Rebel Seed Cidery, 447 Westville Rd, Marydel, ☏ +1 302 343-9437. Family farm winery in the serene countryside to the west of Dover, offering cidery tasting and recurring events. Irish Mikes, 107 W Loockerman St, ☏ +1 302 734-4578.

Dover has a wide selection of chain hotels, along with a couple local bed and breakfasts. If you're planning to come to Dover for a major event such as the NASCAR races at Dover International Speedway, the hotels in the Dover area tend to increase rates and fill up quickly. If coming to Dover during these times, you may have to travel north to the Wilmington area or south to Sussex County to find available hotel rooms. Best Western Galaxy Inn, 1700 E Lebanon Rd, ☏ +1 302 735-4700, fax: +1 302 735-1604. Near Dover AFB, the AMC Museum, and the John Dickinson Plantation. Amenities include free continental breakfast, outdoor pool, fax and photocopy services, Internet access, and fitness center. Comfort Inn & Suites Dover, 764 Leipsic Rd, ☏ +1 302 677-0505. Near Dover International Speedway and the Firefly Music Festival. Amenities include free hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, computer and printer access in lobby, indoor heated pool and whirlpool, and fitness center. Fairfield Inn & Suites Dover, 655 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 677-0900, fax: +1 302 677-0907. 1 mile from the state capitol. Amenities include free breakfast, free high-speed internet, fitness center, and pool. Hampton Inn, 1568 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 736-3500. Near Dover International Speedway and Delaware State University offering free hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, fitness room, meeting rooms, and pool. Hotel is pet-friendly. Hilton Garden Inn - Dover, 1706 N Dupont Hwy, ☏ +1 302 674-3784. Less than 2 miles from Dover Downs and Dover International Speedway.

The main north-south arteries for Dover are DE 1 and US 13. DE 1 heads north as a toll road providing access from points north such as Wilmington and Philadelphia and south as a surface road providing access from the Delaware Beaches and Ocean City, Maryland. US 13 is a surface road that heads north parallel to DE 1, offering a slower alternate from points north that does not have tolls, and south providing access from points south such as Salisbury, Maryland and Norfolk, Virginia. There is also east-west DE 8 that can be used as a main access point to US 50 and the Bay Bridge from points west such as Baltimore and Washington, D.C. From the Bay Bridge, follow US 50 east to US 301 north. Turn onto MD 302 east and follow that route to Templeville. In this town, turn onto MD 454 south. Follow MD 454 south to Marydel, crossing into Delaware and continuing along DE 8 east to Dover. Dover has the Dover Air Force base that is a major outlet for most US Air Force planes that are leaving crossing the ocean. The nearest airports with commercial air service are the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL IATA), Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI IATA), and the Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY IATA). Car rental services are available at all three of these airports. The nearest train station is in Wilmington, which is served by Amtrak trains running along the Northeast Corridor along with some long-distance trains as well as SEPTA Regional Rail commuter trains from Philadelphia.

Since Dover is not an extremely busy city, driving a car is practical for getting around most of the city. In the downtown area, there is free on-street two-hour parking. The time limit is only enforced Monday-Friday. Off-street parking is also available in the downtown area, consisting mostly of permit and metered parking. Parking permits in Dover cost $3 daily, $22 monthly, and $240 annually. Parking permits may be purchased from the City of Dover Customer Service office at 15 Loockerman Way. Parking meters cost $0.25 per hour and $1 for the whole day. Parking fees are in effect from 7AM to 5PM Monday-Friday, with parking free on evenings and weekends. There are five parking lots that serve downtown Dover. The Bradford Street Lot has 111 spaces, with 72 permit spaces, 22 metered spaces, 10 free two-hour spaces, one free 15-minute space, and 5 free handicapped spaces. The North Street Lot has 183 spaces, with 166 permit spaces, 12 spaces reserved for apartments (do not park here), and 5 free handicapped spaces. The Minor Street Lot has 8 permit spaces. The Loockerman Way Lot has 35 spaces, with 33 permit spaces and 2 free handicapped spaces. The Governors Avenue Lot has 103 spaces, with 42 permit spaces, 10 free two-hour spaces, 49 spaces reserved for tenants (do not park here), and 2 free handicapped spaces. A map of downtown parking lots is available here. There is also the DART First State Bus transit system that has many stops around town. Buses primarily operate Monday through Friday with some routes operating on Saturday.