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The Surf Shanty Motel

2.5 star property

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Photo gallery for The Surf Shanty Motel

Exterior
Designer toiletries, hair dryer, towels
Ground Floor - Tub | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, free WiFi, bed sheets
Exterior
Front of property

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Bar

Explore the area

View in a map
21 Van Dyke Ave, Dewey Beach, DE, 19971
  • Place, Dewey Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Bottle & Cork
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Delaware Seashore State Park
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Airport, Ocean City, MD (OCE-Ocean City Municipal)
    ‪47 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Ground Floor - Tub

Ground Floor - Tub | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, free WiFi, bed sheets

Ground Floor - Tub

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(28 reviews)
  • 275 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Second Floor - Shower

Second Floor - Shower | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, free WiFi, bed sheets

Second Floor - Shower

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(30 reviews)
  • 275 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Third Floor - Shower

Third Floor - Shower | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, free WiFi, bed sheets

Third Floor - Shower

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(37 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

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About the neighborhood

Dewey Beach

When you stay at The Surf Shanty Motel in Dewey Beach, you'll be near the beach, just steps from Dewey Beach and 12 minutes by foot from Delaware Seashore State Park. .This motel is 1.8 mi (3 km) from Rehoboth Beach and 2.8 mi (4.5 km) from Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.
View more Motels in Dewey BeachOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Dewey Beach - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Dewey Beach Parasail - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Bottle & Cork - 8 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Indian Beach - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Delaware Seashore State Park - 14 min walk - 0.8 miles

Getting around

  • Georgetown, DE (GED-Sussex County) - 40 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Starboard - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Rusty Rudder - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Woody's Dewey Beach - ‬9 min walk
  • Dewey Beer Co.
  • ‪Grotto Pizza - ‬5 min walk

About this property

The Surf Shanty Motel

Motel with beach bars, steps from Dewey Beach
The Surf Shanty Motel offers 15 accommodations, which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature complimentary bottled water and designer toiletries. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. 55-inch flat-screen televisions come with cable channels.

Bathrooms include complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 50+ Mbps).

Recreational amenities at the motel include complimentary bicycles.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Stay in one of 15 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with premium bedding. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms have designer toiletries and hair dryers.
This smoke-free motel features complimentary bicycles on site, ecotours nearby, and hiking/biking trails nearby. Recreational activities include scooter/moped rentals nearby.
Need to unwind? Take a break with a tasty beverage at one of the 20 beach bars.
Free self parking is available onsite.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 50+ Mbps

Parking and transportation

  • Free uncovered self parking on site
  • Limited onsite self parking (max 1 space per unit)

Food and drink

  • 20 beach bars

Things to do

  • Free bicycle rentals

Family friendly

  • Mini-fridge

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Lever door handles
  • No elevator
  • Visual alarms in hallways
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Designer toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 55-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Mini-fridge

More

  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Heating (climate-controlled)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

There is no front desk at this property
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and an access code; access will be through a private entrance
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Access code, private entrance

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Property is also known as

The Surf Shanty Motel Motel
The Surf Shanty Motel Dewey Beach
The Surf Shanty Motel Motel Dewey Beach

The Surf Shanty Motel Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 263 out of 310 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 44 out of 310 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 310 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 310 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 310 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Nakeiha

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
This was my second time at the Surf Shanty and although the rain sort of impeded going to the beach, my stay was just okay. I was there to get work done, but AC leaked throughout rainstorm.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Edward

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rooms were clean, staff was great, close to the beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

shannon

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a beautifully designed and maintained Boutique Motel!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Kimberly

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Patricia

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Willow

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Norma

Very accommodating manager. Extremely well kept property! Excellent mattresses!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shayla

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jodi

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved the added little touches to the room…color variation in decor! Loved the sound machine too! Very comfortable & clean! Would absolutely recommend this property! Could walk to various restaurants & beach! Easy drive to Rehoboth boardwalk.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Cute and tucked away from the hubbub!

Just got back from our beautiful 2 night stay at the Surf Shanty. Whoever owns this hotel put a lot of love and creativity into refurbishing it. The rooms are beautifully done and there are many thoughtful little touches including Aveda products for the shower. Well lit inside and out and a compact little parking lot in front exclusively for quests. We found the beds to be comfortable, the shower hot, the AC cool, the TV big, and the hotel itself, quiet. Thank you for a great stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Fun motel near beach, always clean and friendly staff!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven, Whitestone

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very clean, great location and staff super friendly.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cara

Traveled with group
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amy

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place was extremely clean.Close to the beach.I loved the bikes on site.Great parking.Would definitely stay again
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location!

Great location. Cute decor. Convenient check in and out.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

LORI

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Loretta

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Loved the beachy vibes, and friendlines. Hoping to go back again!,
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mihalis

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff is always super nice. Hotel is quiet, clean, and in a good location. Stayed here 3 times now and always had a good experience l.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katelyn

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a great stay at the Surf Shanty! This was my first time staying here and I will definitely be back. Everything was perfect; quiet area, walkable, safe, bikes available, clean, easy access to the ice machine. I have come to Dewey every year for the past 20 years and this has become a new favorite motel. Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Brett

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Surf Shanty Love

The staff is always the best. Perfect location. Friendly and we love staying here. Will be back again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jodie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Effecient

Easy check in. Great location. Safe and welcoming
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025