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The Surf Shanty Motel

2.5 star property
Travelers can pedal along the coast with included bike rentals at this beachside haven, then unwind at one of many nearby beach bars for sun-soaked relaxation.

Choose dates to view prices

The Surf Shanty Motel, steps from Dewey Beach, offers a relaxed coastal vibe. Guests enjoy free WiFi, bike rentals for seaside exploration, and 20 beach bars nearby. The property is smoke-free for everyone's comfort.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Bar

Room options

View all photos for Ground Floor - Tub

A hotel room with two beds, a desk with a computer, a TV, and a window with a view of the sea.

Ground Floor - Tub

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(31 reviews)
  • 26 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Second Floor - Shower

A hotel room with two beds, a TV, a plant, and a view of the ocean.

Second Floor - Shower

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
(37 reviews)
  • 26 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Third Floor - Shower

A hotel room with two beds, a TV, a desk, and a view of the ocean.

Third Floor - Shower

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
(41 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free WiFi

About the neighborhood

Located in Dewey Beach, The Surf Shanty Motel is near the beach. Shoppers can check out Tanger Outlets, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Dewey Beach and Delaware Seashore State Park. Don't miss out on a visit to Funland. Be sure not to miss outdoor adventures like ecotours and hiking/biking trails, or hop on a moped rental nearby and take a self-guided tour around the area. Visit our Dewey Beach travel guide
View more Motels in Dewey Beach
Map
21 Van Dyke Ave, Dewey Beach, DE, 19971

What's nearby

  • A wooden pier extending into the ocean at sunset.
    Dewey Beach
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • A suspension bridge at sunset with the sun reflecting on the water.
    Indian Beach
    9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • A bridge with cables silhouetted against a sunset sky.
    Delaware Seashore State Park
    14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Dewey Beach Parasail
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Bottle & Cork
    9 min walk - 0.8 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • The Starboard
    10 min walk
  • Woody's Dewey Beach
    9 min walk
  • Dewey Beer Co.
    10 min walk
  • Rusty Rudder
    4 min walk
  • The Dewey Post
    2 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

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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

Frequently asked questions

Is The Surf Shanty Motel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

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 Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk are also within 3 mi (5 km).

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Reviews

The Surf Shanty Motel Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

10

Cleanliness

9.2

Amenities

9.8

Staff & service

9.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 305 out of 364 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 55 out of 364 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 364 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 364 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 364 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Christine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Surf Shanty was a great place to stay! It was walking distance to all the best restaurants and bars. The hotel is cute and clean. Andre, the manager, was very friendly and helpful. Short walk to the beach and the bay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Joanne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I enjoyed my stay this week. Great location. Helpful staff. It was clean and safe.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sean

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was clean and check in was smooth. The manager was nice and personable and very informative and thorough while setting up our key pad. You will not find a better location for the price. 2 minute walk to the beach and on site parking. My wife and I will absolutely be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Meghan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Updated, cute, modern hotel at the beach and only a short walk from the water and places to go. Loved the design of the place and that it was more updated. Easy check in and check out.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Justin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location was fantastic and the access to the bikes was great. Room was clean. Two suggestions to make it even better - have a room key drop box for when checking out and have a guide in the room outlining the amenities like the bikes and when they are available.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Surf Shanty Motel was exceptional! We will be back! So close to the beach; within walking distance of all the restaurants and bars in Dewey. Literally pulled the car in the lot and never drove while we were there. Andre is extremely welcoming and always with a smile. The room was spotless! They have bikes you can use if you want as well & a free gift from the Surf Shack.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Emily

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We were there for a sporting event. It was worth the extra drive. We came in the off season so it wasn't crowded or hard to get around. Just MINUTES to the beach :) Staff was kind. Overall, a great experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Edward

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

10/10 Excellent

Susan

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

10/10 Excellent

Jessica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We had a great stay and would definitely consider coming back. The location was one of the biggest highlights—it’s incredibly convenient to both the beach and the bayside, making it easy to walk everywhere without needing to drive. The property itself was very clean and exceptionally well maintained. We also loved that complimentary bikes were available to use, which was a fun way to explore the area. The biggest standout, though, was Andre, the manager. He was genuinely friendly, welcoming, and went above and beyond to make sure guests had everything they needed. He truly is the heart of this property and made our stay even better. The only reason I’m not giving a perfect review is that the amenities were fairly limited beyond the bikes and an ice machine. Also, because it’s so close to the beach, it would be helpful to have more storage in the rooms—a closet, cubbies, or another dedicated space for beach chairs, towels, and other gear would make a big difference. Overall, this is a clean, well-kept property in an excellent location with outstanding management. If you’re looking for a simple, comfortable place to stay near both the beach and the bay, this is a great choice.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Steven

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

10/10 Excellent

Agnieszka

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

10/10 Excellent

Mihalis

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
Verified review

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
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and convenient with close access to beach and restaurants.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

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
Verified review

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
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

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
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very nice and clean property. Staff was very friendly and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Libby

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

Great place to stay.

We had a great experience staying at Surf Shanty Motel! Our room was very nice and super clean. The manager was super friendly and helpful. Great location and we’ll definitely stay here again!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

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
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We loved our time at the Surf Shanty - very clean, comfortable, modern, and amazing location!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

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
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Check in was easy, parking very good in a crowded beach town. Room was simple but well appointed.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025