The Surf Shanty Motel

2.5 star property
Motel with free parking, a quick walk to Dewey Beach

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Photo gallery for The Surf Shanty Motel

Relax in comfort with two single beds, a large flat-screen TV, and a scenic ocean view.
Guests can enjoy a waterfront stay with access to the surrounding area.
Experience the soothing sound of waves gently lapping against the shore.
Walking along the shoreline, guests can enjoy the calm beach and ocean views.
Hair care essentials on display, featuring MALIN+GOETZ products.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi

Room options

Third Floor - Shower

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(36 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Mini-fridge
Flat-screen TV
Pillowtop bed
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Ground Floor - Tub

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(26 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Mini-fridge
Flat-screen TV
Pillowtop bed
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Designer toiletries
  • 275 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Second Floor - Shower

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(27 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Mini-fridge
Flat-screen TV
Pillowtop bed
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
  • 275 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
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About the neighborhood

Map
21 Van Dyke Ave, Dewey Beach, DE, 19971

What's nearby

  • Dewey Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Rehoboth Beach - 3 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk - 5 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Funland - 5 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Tanger Outlets - 6 min drive - 6.2 km

Getting around

  • Georgetown, DE (GED-Sussex County) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Rusty Rudder - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Dewey Beer Company - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Woody's Dewey Beach - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Nalu Surf Bar - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Wings To Go - ‬7 min walk

About this property

The Surf Shanty Motel

Motel near Dewey Beach
Located close to Funland and Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk, The Surf Shanty Motel provides 20 beach bars. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Other perks include:
  • Free self parking
  • Free bicycle rentals, express check-out, and smoke-free premises
  • Guest reviews speak highly of the beach locale and helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at The Surf Shanty Motel boast comforts such as premium bedding and air conditioning, in addition to amenities like free WiFi and free bottled water. Guest reviews speak positively of the clean rooms at the property.
Other amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with designer toiletries and hair dryers
  • 55-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels
  • Mini fridges and heating

Languages

English

Similar properties

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 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

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

Frequently asked questions

Is The Surf Shanty Motel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Surf Shanty Motel?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at The Surf Shanty Motel?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at The Surf Shanty Motel?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Surf Shanty Motel located?

Situated near the beach, this motel is within a 15-minute walk of Dewey Beach and Delaware Seashore State Park. Rehoboth Beach and Funland are also within 3 mi (5 km).

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The Surf Shanty Motel Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 227 out of 268 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 39 out of 268 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 268 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 268 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 268 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

9.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

victoria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Property was amazing, clean, right near the beach and everything you need for your stay !
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room is clean , bed is comfortable , location is good, close to beach and shops, will come back
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lani

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Surf Shanty was a great small hotel, close to everything Dewey Beach has to offer, but still tucked away that it wasn’t as noisy as some other hotels we’ve stayed at. Staff was very friendly. Beds and pillows were super comfortable.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Agnieszka

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Great location and friendly staff
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erika

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent place to stay, the rooms are very clean and modern. The location of this motel was perfect. The staff was extremely friendly. I really enjoyed my stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean and location is great. Easy access to beach and several restaurants with live music in the evening. On site manager is super friendly and can provide recommendations to new visitors.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amber

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I am so glad I chose Surf Shanty to stay at! The man at the front desk was so nice and helpful upon checking in. The location was perfect! Less than a block to the beach, on the quieter end of the strip but still walkable to everything. The room was clean and you can tell they put thought into this hotel. All the colors and decor are cohesive and beachy. There is an outdoor shower to rinse the sand off before going back to your room. The beds are super comfortable. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Bob

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very well kept clean property. Excellent location to the beach and dinning close by. A few minor inconvenience. A place to hang a wet bathing suit or towel. No place to unpack your clothes. No microwave but overall very nice for a short stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

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

Best beach vacation stay.

The hotel was clean, quiet, right ny the beach and staff was amazing. My family loved it. ANDRE was very helpful with what ever we needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tobias

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice remodel of an older property. Great Location. Steps from the beach or restuarants.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ronnyne

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

Definitely will be back!

Loved loved LOVED it! This motel is about 150-200 steps from the beach. It was perfect for our stay. The manager was attentive and helpful. The rooms were super clean and the beds were so comfortable. I slept so well here. Definitely will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Josselyn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
loved staying here.. great location, can’t wait to be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved our stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The place was cute, cozy and clean. Great location. Ample parking. Would stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Don

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location and good service
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location, very clean, really enjoyed our 2 nights here. Loved the bikes available
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Curt

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Perfect location
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lori

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was great, from the customer service of the manager to the condition of the rooms.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mihalis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location. Nice and easy to get in and out
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kayla

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Love this place! Will definitely be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Monica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The place was very clean, cozy and comfortable. The manager, Andre was very professional, personable, and helpful. We had a great time and will definitely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Terry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay! Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

AMBER

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Clean and quiet! Friendly staff. Loved our stay here!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great stay. Would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023