The Best Hotels to Book Near Dover International Speedway, Delaware

Why simply watch the cars at Dover International Speedway when you can win enough money to buy your own? Dover Downs Hotel & Casino sits right above a casino floor, primed for a payout. Whether you play the ponies, spin the slots, or put your jackpot’s fate in the hands of a dice roll, you’ll have a high-octane experience even when the races aren’t scheduled.

Between the Dover Downs Casino and the Delaware State University campus, there’s a lot going on around Holiday Inn. Thankfully, this end of Dover is prepared to give you a respite from the crowds, starting with a quiet soak in your suite’s whirlpool bath. The outdoor pool and cocktail lounge are relaxing as well, but if the soothing sounds of nature are more your thing, a cup of coffee makes the perfect partner to a walk around Silver Lake Park.

Hotel Du Pont is located right between Philadelphia and the Dover International Speedway, giving you every excuse to stay in Gilded Age grandeur. The blue velvet chairs in the glamorous lobby are so stunning that you won’t dare snap them on Instagram, instead keeping the secret to yourself. As an alternative, you could give your followers a figurative taste of this luxury hotel through glimpses of branzino and foie gras mousse at on-site Le Cavalier.

Dover Garden Suites are absolutely serene. Each of the ten boutique rooms have jacuzzi tubs, wet bars, wood-burning fireplaces and free snacks for munching while you cook lunch on the grill. The private patios are a breath of fresh air, though they’re nothing compared to the manicured gardens surrounding the suites. Walk around this garden oasis and you’ll feel at peace within minutes.

Hilton Garden Inn says no race? No problem! They’ll be the first to send you from Dover down to Woodland Beach – but not without insisting that their chef cooks up pancakes, eggs and fresh muffins for your breakfast. With the beaches of Delaware Bay only a twenty-minute drive away, you can catch a little sun before finishing your swim at the hotel’s indoor pool when the stars come out.

Hampton Inn knows that your first overnight after a long car ride is a much-needed exercise in self-care, so they’re ready to get you in your room without fuss. Spend all the time you need showering, then wrap yourself in plush towels while zoning out on the bed. After a good night’s rest and a free breakfast (with coffee, of course) you can snag a new outfit at the Dover Mall to look and feel your best on race day.

Sleep Inn & Suites is precisely where you want to park your car when you need to shut your own engine off. It welcomes you with the tried-and-true hotel amenities you’ve come to expect, including a swimming pool, fitness center and free breakfast. Most importantly, you’ll get the sleep you need without loud neighbors or the roar of Dover International Speedway keeping you awake, despite being within 2mi (3.2km) of the raceway.