Smyrna Hotels: Where to Stay in Delaware

Hotels in Smyrna, Delaware, are few. This small Kent County town sits on Route 13 between Dover and Middletown, and the lodging list inside town is short. We checked the current options, dropped old listings we could not verify, and added real detail on the history and wildlife nearby. Read on to see where to stay in Smyrna, which nearby towns add more choices, and what to confirm before you book.

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Where to Stay in Smyrna, Delaware

Hotels in Smyrna, Delaware: The Short List

Two lodging properties show up for the town itself in the sources we checked. The Quality Inn Smyrna is the larger and better documented. The Relax Inn Smyrna is a roadside motel on Route 13 with far less published detail. Several more hotels sit a short drive away in Dover and Middletown, and we cover those further down.

We have not stayed at any of these properties. We pulled addresses, phone numbers and amenities from the brand site, tourism listings and travel directories. Amenities change, so call the front desk to confirm anything you need, such as a pool, breakfast hours or pet rules.

Quality Inn Smyrna

The Quality Inn Smyrna is at 190 Stadium Street, Smyrna, DE 19977, in the Gateway North Plaza area. The Choice Hotels page lists the phone number as (302) 223-4203. A second directory lists a different number, (302) 659-3635. Try the Choice number first, and confirm the right line when you book.

Choice Hotels lists check-in at 4:00 PM and check-out at 11:00 AM. The page also lists free WiFi, free parking, a free hot breakfast with waffles and coffee, a seasonal outdoor pool, a fitness center and 24-hour reception. Two sources agree on the pool, and one notes the pool is open only during limited hours. Plan around the limited hours if you travel in the cooler months.

Rooms are listed with a refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker and flat-screen TV. Some rooms add a hair dryer and an iron. The property has an elevator, accessible ramps and Braille signage, and the building is smoke-free. Pets are not allowed except service animals, according to the brand page.

This is the best fit for most travelers who want to sleep inside Smyrna. Choice Hotels places downtown Smyrna and the Smyrna Museum nearby, along with Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge about a 10-minute drive away. We could not confirm the drive time from a second source, so treat the figure as approximate.

Relax Inn Smyrna

The Relax Inn Smyrna is a motel at 1648 South Dupont Blvd, Smyrna, DE 19977. Two directories give this address. The Visit Delaware listing places the motel on Route 13 in Smyrna and describes the spot as convenient to Dover International Speedway and the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, with shopping and dining in historic Dover within reach.

We found no official website, no confirmed phone number and no verified amenity list. A pet-friendly tag shows on one travel site, while a second directory says pets are not accepted. Those two sources disagree, so call before you bring an animal. We also could not confirm check-in and check-out times.

Treat this listing as an unconfirmed motel listing. Phone ahead, ask about the room type and ask about parking. If you want a brand-name property with published policies, the Quality Inn is the safer pick.

Motels and Hotels Near Smyrna in Dover and Middletown

Travelers who want more choice can look to the Dover and Middletown areas. Both sit along the same corridor. We found these properties on a single directory page, so we flag them as unconfirmed. We did not verify drive times from Smyrna, and we do not give any here.

In Dover, the directory lists the Residence Inn by Marriott Dover at 600 Jefferic Blvd, the Comfort Inn and Suites Dover at 764 Leipsic Road, the Hampton Inn Dover at 1568 North Dupont Highway and the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Dover at 1780 North Dupont Highway. The page also lists the Sleep Inn and Suites Dover, the Hilton Garden Inn Dover and the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Dover.

Budget-minded visitors may look at the Red Roof Inn Dover at 652 North Dupont Highway or the Super 8 Motel Dover at 348 North Dupont Highway. Both appear on the same list. In Middletown, the list shows the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Middletown at 315 Auto Park Drive, the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Middletown at 411 Merrimac Avenue and the Hampton Inn Middletown at 117 Sandhill Drive.

The directory also shows pet policies for these hotels, but the dates on the policies run from 2016 to 2022. Call the hotel to confirm pet rules and any fees. Look up current availability on Expedia using the link at the top of this guide.

Old Listings We Removed From This Guide

An earlier version of this post named several properties. We could not tie them to Smyrna, so we removed them.

Duck Creek Village is real, but the site is a historic district. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and holds three surviving buildings from a mid-18th century community. Those buildings are a brick former miller’s house called The Lindens, a plank house and a former grist mill. The Duck Creek Historical Society moved the plank house to the Smyrna Museum Complex in 1998 and 1999. You cannot book a room there.

We also dropped the Microtel Inn and Suites by Wyndham Dover, which we could not find on current listings. The old post named Trap Pond State Park and Jungle Jim’s Water Park as nearby attractions. We could not connect either one to a Smyrna stay, so we cut them. We also cut the old suggestion of bicycle rentals at hotels, because no source supports the claim.

Historic Places to Stay Near Smyrna

Some historic lodging names come up in searches. Check each name before you plan around the building.

The Inn at Duck Creek was an upscale restaurant in the historic Phillips Building in downtown Smyrna. A 2016 Delaware Business Now report says the restaurant closed and the owners sought a new operator. The report describes a restaurant, not a place to sleep, so we do not list the inn as lodging.

Short’s Landing Hotel Complex, at 6180 Hay Point Landing Road near Smyrna, is a historic brick hotel dating to about 1780. The complex joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Our source gives no current operating status, so we cannot say whether the building takes overnight guests. Treat the complex as a historic site you may see from the road, and do not plan a stay there.

Things to Do Near Smyrna Hotels

Smyrna has a historic core and a major wildlife refuge close by. These are the places worth planning around.

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge sits at 2591 Whitehall Neck Road in Smyrna. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says the refuge covers 16,251 acres along eight miles of Delaware Bay. The refuge is open daily from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Visitors can drive a 12-mile wildlife drive, walk five trails and climb three observation towers. Two of the trails are accessible, and one includes a boardwalk over the salt marsh.

The visitor center has exhibits, an auditorium with nature films and a gift shop run by the Friends of Bombay Hook. The service lists Monday through Saturday hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A Visit Delaware villages page lists different weekend hours, so call the refuge at (302) 653-9345 before you drive out. The wildlife drive and trails need an entrance pass. Some roads close for hunting and in bad weather, so check the refuge website or call ahead. Bring insect repellent and long sleeves in summer.

In town, the Smyrna Museum Complex at 11 South Main Street is run by the Duck Creek Historical Society. The town lists the museum as open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with free admission. Call (302) 653-1320 for other days. The complex includes the former Barracks building and the restored Plank House, an early 1700s structure.

The Smyrna Opera House at 107 South Main Street works as both a theater and an art gallery. The venue has hosted dances, lectures and community events, and later showed films. Call (302) 653-4236 for event details. The Henry Levin Center at 27 North Main Street is a pharmacy museum and conference hall. Its phone number is (302) 659-3088.

The town says more than 490 buildings in the historic area are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Old Town Hall at Main and Commerce Streets was built between 1869 and 1879. A fire in 1948 caused major damage. A walk along Main Street makes an easy first stop after check-in.

How to Choose a Smyrna Hotel or Motel

Start with what you need most. If you want published policies, breakfast and a listed pool, pick the Quality Inn Smyrna. If you want the lowest-key roadside motel and do not mind making a phone call first, ask the Relax Inn about rooms.

If you plan a long stay or need a kitchen, look at the Dover and Middletown options. The Residence Inn by Marriott Dover appeared on the old version of this post, and a directory still lists the address. Call the property to ask about suites and kitchens.

Think about your trip goal. Birders and photographers will want an early start at Bombay Hook, so a Smyrna room cuts the morning trip. History fans can walk Main Street and visit the museum. Race fans or casino visitors may prefer a Dover room near Route 13, because the Visit Delaware listing ties the area to Dover International Speedway and Dover Downs.

Last, call before you book. Ask about check-in time, breakfast hours, parking and pet rules. Confirm the phone number you dial, since we found two different numbers for the Quality Inn.

Getting Around Smyrna

Route 13 runs through the area and links Smyrna with Dover and Middletown. A car is the practical choice for most visitors. The Bombay Hook refuge sits outside the downtown core, and the wildlife drive itself needs a vehicle, a bicycle or a good pair of walking shoes.

Downtown Smyrna is small. Choice Hotels describes the Quality Inn as near downtown, the Smyrna Museum and the shops and restaurants there. We did not measure walking distances, so check a map before you plan to leave the car at the hotel.

We found no sourced information on public transit or bicycle rentals, so we leave those out. If you rely on either, ask the hotel and the town office.

What We Checked and What We Could Not

We checked the Choice Hotels page for the Quality Inn, a second directory for its address and amenities, and travel listings for both Smyrna properties. For the Relax Inn we used the Visit Delaware listing and two directories for the address. For attractions we used the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Town of Smyrna culture page, and Wikipedia pages on the historic sites.

We could not confirm the Quality Inn phone number from two sources, the Relax Inn phone number or amenities, the pet policy at the Relax Inn, or the current status of Short’s Landing as lodging. We also could not confirm any of the Dover and Middletown hotels beyond one directory. This guide gives no room rates, because rates change daily. Use the Expedia link above for current availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Hotels in Smyrna, Delaware, are limited, so plan ahead. The Quality Inn Smyrna is the best documented choice, the Relax Inn Smyrna needs a phone call, and Dover and Middletown add more rooms along Route 13. Pair your stay with Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and the historic downtown. Call every property to confirm details, then check current availability on Expedia.

Where else to stay in Delaware. Every guide we have for the region.