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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VwVSFoK+JcKfo9wVf4o5kkuDJp84Vip+qYXDRkl5/kVEDSaetACo9XG//hwgPN4D
 gLaiQyZcV6YaEgQcdTjC+g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000029534-04-000018.txt : 20040301
<SEC-HEADER>0000029534-04-000018.hdr.sgml : 20040301
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040301112453
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000029534-04-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040228
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040301

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOLLAR GENERAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000029534
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-VARIETY STORES [5331]
		IRS NUMBER:				610502302
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 MISSION RIDGE
		CITY:			GOODLETTSVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37072
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6158554000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 MISSION RIDGE
		CITY:			GOODLETTSVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37072

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TURNER CAL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710401

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TURNER J L & SON INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			O BRIANT STONIE R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001062396
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-VARIETY STORES [5331]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0101

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11421
		FILM NUMBER:		04637831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 MISSION RIDGE
		CITY:			GOODLETTSVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37072
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6158554000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 MISSION RIDGE
		CITY:			GOODLETTSVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37072

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OBRIANT STONIE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980526
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000029534</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DOLLAR GENERAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001062396</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O BRIANT STONIE R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 MISSION RIDGE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GOODLETTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37072</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2505.387</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2505.387</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60478.9916</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5827.1226</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.5597</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5827.1226</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54651.869</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares of phantom stock are convertible into shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of phantom stock are exercisable immediately.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares of phantom stock become payable in cash upon the reporting person's termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">90.8165 shares of phantom stock were acquired by the reporting person on February 28, 2004 pursuant to an automatic dividend reinvestment that was exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 16a-11; the total amount owned following the reported transaction includes 5,827.1226 shares of phantom stock which became payable in February 2004, and 7,744.3835 shares of phantom stock which become payable in cash in February 2005 pursuant to an in-service distribution election previously made by the reporting person, in addition to the remaining shares which become payable in cash upon the reporting person's termination of employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The shares of phantom stock became payable in cash in February 2004, pursuant to an in-service distribution election previously made by the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The total amount owned following the reported transaction includes 7,744.3835 shares of phantom stock which become payable in cash in February 2005 pursuant to an in-service distribution election previously made by the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Susan S. Lanigan, By Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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