CITY SPOTLIGHT:

YOUR GUIDE TO Dover, Delaware

Know Before You Go: About Dover

Before you go there, let us help you map out your journey to Dover, once a 17th-century settlement, where fun awaits the whole family.

The First State's capital city of Dover has a need for speed. Whether it's the stock car races on the track or the Eagle Wing at Dover Air Force Base, this Delaware city has a deeply rooted reverence for things that move us. But the roots run even deeper in this 17th-century settlement; you'll definitely want to explore the city's colonial heritage. From history to roadside entertainment, you’ll find it all and more in Dover.

Delaware Dewpoint

Dover gets a few muggy months in the summer but an even longer dry spell after a short autumn. Summer thunderstorms can be severe enough to bring outdoor events to a standstill, and temperatures can average in the 80s during the day and 60s to 70s after the sun goes down. Winter can bring light snow, so make sure you pack something warm and shoes that don't leave you slipping on sidewalks. Be prepared, though, for the occasional snowstorm.

Dover Area Attractions

True to the culture of the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, Dover will give you a taste of military might on a base of rich colonial history. The Air Mobility Command Museum serves as a reverent resting place for the giants of the sky in years past, from fighters to a bomber, along with exhibits that detail the role of airlift and refueling in aviation history. The city is home to machines of mechanical might that go by land or by sea. Get the thrill of speed at a NASCAR race at Dover International Speedway. And while there's no shortage of early American sites to brush up on your Revolutionary War history, start at the John Dickinson Plantation for a reenactment tour that takes you through the lives of the slaves, plantation tenants and the Dickinson family.

The Business of Defense

While Wilmington to the north is the hub of the Delaware business world, Dover is in the business of national defense. Dover Air Force Base brings nearly half a billion dollars to the area, from the more than 6,000 personnel stationed there to more than 2,000 civilian jobs—base staffers, contractors and secondary positions on which the base depends. Other big industries are the state government and education, as the city is home to Delaware State University, Wesley College and a University of Delaware satellite campus.

Fancy a Ferry?

Much of getting to Dover involves roundabout routes, like if you just want to reach the city by crossing the Delaware River: you can take the ferry from Cape May, New Jersey, to Lewes, Delaware, which crosses the 17-mile opening of the Delaware Bay in 85 minutes and accommodates 100 cars per trip. Otherwise, you're hooking up with Interstate 95 from wherever you are on the East Coast and cutting south near Wilmington, as there are no bridges over the Delaware River closer to Dover. You'll want to fly into either Wilmington or Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport if traveling by air. If you need public transportation in town, look for the DART buses.

Ready to travel? Find hotels in Dover.

Things to do In Dover

We know the best things to do in Dover—the cozy town where the U.S. Constitution was ratified—and our guide will help you plan a great vacation.