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Map of the westernmost eight counties in North Carolina. Although early in the idea stage, Interstate 3, a freeway concept between Knoxville, Tennessee and Augusta, Georgia, might utilize the North Carolina 69, U.S. 64, and U.S. 129 corridors in Clay, Cherokee, and Graham Counties.
U.S. 19 travels more east-west than north-south through western North Carolina. The federal highway flows northward out of the Atlanta metropolitan area into the North Georgia Mountains before crossing the state line on an overlap with U.S. 129 near Ranger. Four miles across the state line the tandem of U.S. 19 & 129 merge with U.S. 64 & 74 for a seven-mile overlap to Murphy. At Murphy U.S. 19 Business loops into town and U.S. 64 leaves for Hayesville and Franklin. U.S. 19-29-129 continue 28 miles to Topton for the U.S. 129 departure for Robbinsville. A U.S. 19 Business loop serves the town of Andrews midway between Ranger and Topton.
After the split with U.S. 129, U.S. 19 & 74 continue along a two-lane roadway through Nantahala, Wesser, and the southern reaches of Fontana Lake. U.S. 19 partitions with U.S. 74 at the west end of the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway at Bryson City. The federal route provides the main route through town en route to Ela, Birdtown, and the resort town of Cherokee. Cherokee lies just south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park within the Cherokee Indian Reservation. U.S. 19 shares a short stretch with U.S. 441 through town before exiting onto winding path through Soco Gap to Maggie Valley.
The narrow nature of U.S. 19 continues from Cherokee through to Maggie Valley. The curvy roadway is not recommended for trucks and a U.S. 19 Truck bypass is signed for U.S. 441 and U.S. 74 to the south. At Maggie Valley the federal route widens into a four-lane divided highway as U.S. 19 descends into Dellwood (junction U.S. 276) and Waynesville. A brief jog along the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway carries U.S. 19 around Waynesville to Canton. U.S. 19 & 23 depart U.S. 74 ahead of its merge with Interstate 40 for the jaunt through downtown Clyde and Canton.
North Carolina @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 19
U.S. 23 is cosigned throughout its alignment in Western North Carolina. The route ends the state from Dillard, Georgia along with U.S. 441 via a four-lane divided highway. 14 miles north of the Georgia line is the merge with U.S. 64 around the Macon County seat of Franklin. U.S. 23 & 441 share two miles with U.S. 64 before resuming a northward journey to Dillsboro and junction U.S. 74.
U.S. 441 parts with U.S. 23 for U.S. 74 westbound to Cherokee. U.S. 23 meanwhile joins U.S. 74 to bypass Sylva and U.S. 23 Business to the north via the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. U.S. 23 & 74 cosign through to the merge with U.S. 19 at Waynesville. At Exit 106, U.S. 19 & 23 split with U.S. 74 for Clyde and Canton as U.S. 74 merges onto Interstate 40. A U.S. 23 Business loop serves downtown Waynesville between Hazelwood and Clyde.
| U.S. 23 Business |
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SR-1646 (Frontage Road) southbound at U.S. 23 Business & North Carolina 209 (Asheville Road) at the U.S. 19-23-74 east Waynesville interchange (Exit 104). U.S. 23 Business begins to the left and travels into downtown Waynesville. North Carolina 209 continues the roadway north to Interstate 40. Traffic to U.S. 19 & 23 south and 74 west is directed onto the SR-1375 frontage road west for the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway on-ramp. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
U.S. 64 comprises the longest federal route within the state of North Carolina. From the Tennessee state line to Nags Head on the Outer Banks, U.S. 64 travels over 600 miles within the Tar Heel State. Beginning its journey with U.S. 74, the federal highway travels 16 miles fro Isabella, Tennessee to junction Ranger. Just east of there U.S. 64 & 74 join U.S. 29 & 129 for a seven mile drive to the Cherokee County seat of Murphy.
U.S. 64 leaves U.S. 74 and company at Murphy to skim the southern reaches of Clay, Macon, Jackson, and Transylvania Counties. The winding route includes travels through Hayesville, Chatuge Lake, Shooting Creek, and Rainbow Springs on the trek between Murphy and Franklin (junction U.S. 23 & 441). U.S. 64 merges briefly with U.S. 23 & 441 to bypass Franklin to the south. Additionally a U.S. 64 Business loop serves Hayesville.
Once outside of Franklin, U.S. 64 reduces back to two lanes and travels southeasterly again to Highlands with North Carolina 28. North Carolina 28 departs there for Pine Mountain, Georgia as U.S. 64 turns back to the northeast to Cashiers, Sapphire, and Cherryfield. U.S. 64 encounters the northern terminus of U.S. 178 in central Transylvania County near the town of Rossman.
The nine miles of pavement between U.S. 178 and the Transylvania County seat of Brevard include a four-lane divided stretch of U.S. 64. The route in conjunction with North Carolina 280 provides a direct shot to Interstate 26 and the Asheville metropolitan area to the northeast. U.S. 64 joins U.S. 276 for a three-mile overlap between downtown Brevard and North Carolina 280 before turning eastward for Etowah and Hendersonville. A U.S. 64 Truck route travels Caldwell Street one block north of U.S. 64 (Broad Street) in Brevard itself. A longer U.S. 64 Truck follows U.S. 74 and Interstate 40 between Hendersonville and Murphy.
North Carolina @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 64
U.S. 129 skims the western two counties of North Carolina between Ranger and Tapoco. The federal highway overlaps with U.S. 19 from the Georgia line to U.S. 64 & 74 outside of Ranger. From there U.S. 129 turns northeast on a divided highway with U.S. 19 & 74 25 miles between Ranger and Andrews. At Topton, U.S. 129 leaves U.S. 19 & 74 to the northwest through the Sunteetlah Lake region en route to Maryville and Knoxville, Tennessee.
| U.S. Highway 129 |
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U.S. 129 northbound reassurance marker posted as the federal highway leaves its overlap with U.S. 19 & 74 at Topton. The highway crosses the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad at-grade before turning right at SR-1395. U.S. 129 enters the southeastern tip of Graham County en route to Robbinsville ten miles to the west. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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Shield assembly at the U.S. 129 southbound merge onto U.S. 19 & 74 at Topton. U.S. 129 turns southwesterly with U.S. 19 south & 74 west seven miles to Andrew and 25 miles to Murphy. U.S. 129 remains cosigned with U.S. 19 through to the Georgia state line. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
Only seven miles of U.S. 178 exist within the Tar Heel State. The federal highway begins at U.S. 64 outside of Rossman and travels southward to Rocky Bottom and Pickens, South Carolina. The scenic two lane highway drives near Sassafras Mountain, the tallest peak in the Palmetto State.
North Carolina @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 178
Like U.S. 178, U.S. 276 is a Carolina-only federal route. U.S. 276 however is much shorter than U.S. 178 as it only travels between Greenville, South Carolina and Cove Creek, North Carolina. The federal highway serves the growing northern suburbs of Greenville before ascending to Caesars Head, South Carolina and Cedar Mountain, North Carolina. Like U.S. 178 to the west, the federal route features numerous switchbacks and sharp curves to traverse the high country at the state line.
At Brevard, U.S. 276 joins U.S. 64 for a three mile overlap out of town. U.S. 64 splits with U.S. 276 at the northbound beginning of North Carolina 280. U.S. 64 travels to Hendersonville, North Carolina 280 to Asheville, and U.S. 276 to Waynesville. The drive between Brevard and Waynesville however is much different than the drives U.S. 64 & North Carolina 280 take to their respective destinations. U.S. 276 traverses the Pisgah National Forest on the 30 mile drive to Woodrow that includes several switch backs and tight turns. Use U.S. 276 for the natural attractions of Sliding Rock and Looking Glass Falls.
Once outside the Pisgah National Forest, U.S. 276 intersects the south end of North Carolina 110 in Woodrow and North Carolina 215 north of Sunburst. A seven mile drive from there brings U.S. 276 into downtown Waynesville and junction U.S. 23 Business (Main Street). U.S. 276 travels a four-lane divided highway from Waynesville to U.S. 19 where the two merge together for two miles. At Dellwood U.S. 276 enters its final extant between U.S. 19 and Interstate 40 at Cove Creek.
| U.S. 276 East |
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U.S. 276 (Main Street) eastbound two blocks south of the U.S. 64 overlap along Broad Street in Brevard. The signalized intersection governs the movements between Main and Johnson Streets in downtown Brevard. Photo taken 07/23/04. |
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U.S. 276 east transitions from Main Street into Greenville Highway at the intersection with Park Avenue east of downtown Brevard. Greenville Highway is named for the U.S. 276 connection between Brevard and Greenville, South Carolina. Photo taken 07/23/04. |
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The last traffic signal encountered along U.S. 276 eastbound within the state of North Carolina. Intersecting the federal highway here is Parkview Drive and SR-1543. The Greenville Highway departs the town of Brevard after the intersection with Gallimore Road ahead. Photo taken 07/23/04. |
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Scenes along U.S. 276 (Greenville Highway) eastbound through the Dunns Rock and Cedar Mountain area of south Transylvania County. Initially the route straddles flat farmlands south of Brevard before ascending the mountains near the state line. The twisting and winding roadway features many switchbacks and undulation on the 22-miles between Brevard and junction South Carolina 11. Photos taken 07/23/04. |
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Last but not least is U.S. 441. The highway enters the state with U.S. 23 near Norton in southern Macon County as a four-lane divided highway. U.S. 23 & 441 overlap from there 35 miles north to Dillsboro and the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway. The tandem bypasses Franklin along a two-mile overlap with U.S. 64 in central Macon County. U.S. 441 Business loops into downtown Franklin north of the U.S. 23-64-441 bypass.
Outside of Sylva is the switch off between the overlap with U.S. 23 and overlap with U.S. 74. U.S. 74 & 441 wind eight miles northwest to the Bryson City segment of the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway at Exit 74. There U.S. 441 finally maintains its own routing for the resort town of Cherokee. At Cherokee the highway splits between a business and bypass routing. U.S. 441 Business branches northeast to U.S. 19 at Cherokee. U.S. 441 Bypass stays west and joins U.S. 19 briefly before merging with U.S. 441 Business west of town.
U.S. 441 leaves Cherokee for Smokemont and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The federal highway is the only to travel across the mountains between North Carolina and Tennessee and is not open to commercial traffic. The 25-mile drive between Smokemont and Gatlinburg, Tennessee features striking views from the summit near the state line. The route curvature does not allow for high speeds generally speaking.
State Highways
A handful of state highways are signed throughout the western eight counties of North Carolina. They are as follows:
| Route |
South / West End |
North / East End |
Towns Served |
Mileage |
| 28 |
GA state line |
TN state line |
Highlands, Gneiss, Cullasaja, Franklin, Iotia, Wests Mill, Lauada, Almont, Stecoah, Fontana Village |
72.9 |
| 60 |
GA state line |
U.S. 64 & 74 east of Ranger |
-- |
5.0 |
| 69 |
GA state line |
Hayesville |
-- |
3.5 |
| 106 |
GA state line |
Highlands |
Scaly |
11.2 |
| 107 |
SC state line |
Sylva |
High Hampton, Cashiers, Glenville, Tuckasegee, East Laport, Forest Hills |
34.4 |
| 110 |
Woodrow |
Canton |
-- |
5.5 |
| 116 |
Green Creek |
Webster |
-- |
4.0 |
| 141 |
U.S. 64 north of Brasstown |
Marble |
Peachtree |
8.2 |
| 143 |
TN state line |
Stecoah |
Robbinsville, Cheoah |
29 |
| 175 |
GA state line |
U.S. 64 west of Shooting Creek |
-- |
4.1 |
| 209 |
Lake Junaluska |
Hot Springs |
Crabtree, Luck, Trust, Spring Creek |
35.5 |
| 215 |
U.S. 64 north of Rossman |
Canton |
Sunburst, Woodrow |
43.8 |
| 280 |
U.S. 64 & 276 east of Brevard |
Arden |
Mills River |
18.2 |
| 281 |
SC state line |
Tuckasegee |
Lake Toxaway |
36.7 |
| 294 |
TN state line |
Ranger |
Suit |
13.4 |
| North Carolina 28 |
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North Carolina 28 northbound after its split with U.S. 19 & 74. The state highway travels west to Almond across the southern reaches of Fontana Lake to Stecoah and Fontana Village en route to U.S. 129 near the Tennessee state line. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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Southbound North Carolina 28 at its merge onto U.S. 19 north & 74 eastbound. The trio share three miles between here and Lauada. U.S. 19 & 74 enter the area from Wessler and Nantahala Gorge to the southwest. The tandem continue from there to Andrews and Murphy in Cherokee County. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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U.S. 19 north, U.S. 74 east, and North Carolina 28 southbound shield assembly at the merge of the three highways. The three routes travel a four-lane highway to Lauuada where North Carolina 28 returns to a southern heading to Franklin and Highlands. U.S. 19 east & 74 north continue the four-lane highway to Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
| North Carolina 215 |
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North Carolina 215 (Blackwell Drive) northbound at SR-1643 in the town of Canton. The state route turns left onto SR-1643 for the drive to Interstate 40 & U.S. 74 north of town. North Carolina 215 and Newfound Road provide the main access points to Interstate 40 from Canton and West Canton. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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Northbound North Carolina 215 at the Exit 31 diamond interchange of Interstate 40 & U.S. 74. The state highway ends here as SR-1582. There is no outlet to the system of roads north of the junction. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
Miscellaneous Scenes Around Western North Carolina
Photos taken along the road that don't fit anywhere else.
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SR-1188 / Spring Street northbound at its merge with U.S. 19 (Main Street) in Bryson City. U.S. 19 travels Main Street west along the banks of the Tuckasegee River to Spring Street where the federal highway turns north for two blocks. U.S. 19 turns back west along Alarka Road from Spring Street before the Slope Street bridge across the Tuckasegee River. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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An older concrete bridge carries U.S. 19 & 74 across the Nantahala River between U.S. 129 at Topton and Nantahala Gorge. Photo taken 09/12/04. |
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Everett Street southbound at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad crossing and Depot Street in downtown Bryson City. Everett Street crosses the Tuckasegee River in three blocks to meet junction U.S. 19 (Main Street). Photo taken 08/13/04. |
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SR-1375 constitutes the westbound frontage road of the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway in the vicinity of Exit 104. The roadway carries U.S. 23 Business and North Carolina 209 traffic onto U.S. 19 & 23 south and 74 westbound for Maggie Valley, Cherokee, and Bryson City. Photo taken 08/13/04. |
Page Updated January 11, 2005.
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