Private host

The Surf Shanty Motel

2.5 star property

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Surf Shanty Motel

Second Floor - Shower
Exterior
Designer toiletries, hair dryer, towels
Exterior
Front of property

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
21 Van Dyke Ave, Dewey Beach, DE, 19971
  • Place, Dewey Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Tanger Outlets
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, Ocean City, MD (OCE-Ocean City Municipal)
    ‪49 min drive‬

Room options

Ground Floor - Tub

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

Second Floor - Shower

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

Third Floor - Shower

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

Similar properties

About this property

The Surf Shanty Motel

Motel with free parking, 3-minute walk to Dewey Beach
This smoke-free motel features 20 beach bars, free use of bicycles, and express check-out. Self parking is free.
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.

Our customers tell us they can't get enough of the helpful staff at The Surf Shanty Motel. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Dewey Beach Parasail. Enjoy features like free self parking and 20 beach bars.
  • Free WiFi (speed: 50+ Mbps)
  • Free self parking
  • Enjoy drinks at the 20 beach bars
  • Onsite recreation includes complimentary bicycles
  • Guests have great things to say about the beach and the clean accommodations
  • Just a 3-minute walk from Dewey Beach and 12 minutes by foot from Delaware Seashore State Park
The Surf Shanty Motel offers its guests express check-out. You can unwind with a drink at one of the 20 beach bars. The front desk is open around the clock. Limited free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

This Dewey Beach motel is smoke free.


Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • Free uncovered self parking on site
  • Limited on-site 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 lift
  • Visual alarms in hallways
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • Smoke-free property

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

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Payment types at the property

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
This property does not have a front desk. This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in. Guests will receive an email 24 hours before arrival with check-in information and an access code. Guests can access their accommodation through a private entrance.

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 309 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 43 out of 309 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 309 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 309 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 309 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Teresa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Hotel was clean. Very close to the beach and close to restaurants. Would stay again
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Always love staying here!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Colleen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful!! Adorable, love the branding and bikes....!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tina

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
na
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shendi

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
amazing place to stay- the staff was so friendly
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Cute motel, great location

Location can’t be beat. Friendly staff. Nice to have access to bikes. We stayed there a couple of nights. The room doesn’t have many drawer space or a closet so that might have annoyed me as I like to put my clothes in drawers or hang them up on longer stays. There was a coat rack that was handy to have to hang clothing on. Only complaint is that the walls are thin. I had to keep the TV on at night to drown out the footsteps/noise from the room directly above or next door. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Masooma

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

10/10 Excellent

Amber

Travelled with group
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

10/10 Excellent

Lani

Travelled with family
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

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

8/10 Good

Judith

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The only thing we didn't like is it didn't have an elevator. We had to walk to 3rd floor.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Miriam

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Travelled with partner
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

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Vincent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryan

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven, Whitestone

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

Thomas

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

stacey

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erika

Travelled with partner
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

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

8/10 Good

Cory

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Libby

Travelled with group
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

10/10 Excellent

James, ALEXANDRIA

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