It is of great significance to study the spatial and temporal evolution and driving mechanism of multi-cropping rice area to ensure Chinese grain production and security. The Nich index and geo-detector model were used to explore the spatial and temporal dynamics and main influencing factors of one-cropping rice and double-cropping rice planting in Dongting Lake Area from 1987 to 2017. The results show that: (1) In the past 30 years, the proportion of one cropping rice in the hilly area was greater than that in the central plain, and the overall trend was increasing; with a tendency to decrease first and then increase in Wuling district, Yuanjiang city and other places from 2007 to 2017. (2) From 1987 to 2002, the relative development rates of the area of one-cropping rice and double-cropping rice showed a high gradient pattern in the west and low in the east. From 2002 to 2017, one-cropping rice showed a high-low-high banding pattern, while double-cropping rice showed a pattern of high in the north and low in the south. (3) The results of geo-detector models in 1987 and 2017 showed that the effect of effective irrigation area, industrial workers, agricultural workers, and the total output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery exerted influence on rice area. This research results provide a basis for optimizing the adjustment of rice planting structure.