Highway 28

NC 28 represents the northern extent of a 238-mile long multi-state route with both S.C. and Georgia Route 28. The overall route begins at Beech Island, SC, just southeast of Augusta, GA, and ends at U.S. 129, just 0.7 miles south of Deals Gap and the Tennessee state line. Within North Carolina, the state highway traverses mountainous terrain with many twists and turns from its entrance into the state south of Highlands.

Portions of the winding route overlap with U.S. Highways. This includes the 19 mile stretch between Highlands and Franklin and a short overlap with U.S. 19/74 between Almond and Lauada.

North

Welcome to Macon County sign posted just north of the Georgia state line near Big Ridge. Photo taken 07/09/10.

Lush foliage lines the winding state highway during the warm weather season. North Carolina 28 winds northeast through Sassafras Gap around Queen Mountain to Wilson Gap. Photo taken 07/09/10.

Northbound shield assembly posted as North Carolina 28 climbs onto Blue Ridge. Photo taken 07/09/10.

North Carolina 28 crests at 3,771 feet above sea level and the Eastern Continental Divide just east of Sassafras Knob on Blue Ridge. Photo taken 07/09/10.

N.C. 28 follows 4th Street into the town of Highlands. The state highway travels north than east before turning north at Salulah Road for the approach to U.S. 64 (Main Street). Photo taken 07/09/10.

4th Street gains on-street parking as North Carolina 28 enters downtown Highlands. Two blocks north from Spring Street is the western turn of N.C. 28 onto U.S. 64. The two share 17 miles of pavement northwest to Gneiss, Cullasaja and Franklin. Photo taken 07/09/10.

U.S. 64 follows Main Street east from Franklin Road to 4th Street, where the route turns northeast to Cashiers, Sapphire and Lake Toxaway. Photo taken 07/09/10.

South West North

A second shield assembly includes North Carolina 28 north and its control points of Fontana and Robbinsville. North Carolina 28 leads north to North Carolina 143 west for Robbinsville and U.S. 129. Photo taken 09/12/04.

A branch of Fontana Lake stems southward to U.S. 19-74 & North Carolina 28 one mile west of Lauada. The Little Tennessee River flows south from the lake to Franklin and Macon County. Photo taken 09/12/04.

The split of North Carolina 28 north from U.S. 19 south & 74 west is heralded with a full guide sign ahead of the partition. North Carolina 28 straddles the Fontana Lake area between Almond, Stecoah (North Carolina 143), and Fontana Village. Photo taken 09/12/04.

The Appalachian Highway branches west with North Carolina 28 from U.S. 74 near Almond. The five-lane roadway of U.S. 19 & 74 also continues with the state highway toward Stecoah. U.S. 19 south & 74 westbound are relegated to a two-lane highway from here southwest to Topton. Photo taken 09/12/04.

North

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.

South

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.

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 East South

U.S. 19 north, U.S. 74 east, and North Carolina 28 southbound reassurance shield assembly and mileage sign posted after their merge near Almond. U.S. 74 comprises the main east-west highway between Interstate 40 west of Asheville and the Tennessee state line. U.S. 19 & 74 split four miles ahead outside of Bryson City. An unneeded "junction" placard was added above the N.C. 28 shield by 2010. Photo taken 09/12/04.

	North Carolina 28 leads south from Lauada 21 miles to Franklin. The state highway is part of a multi-state route leading south to Augusta, Georgia and Beech Island, South Carolina. Photo taken 07/09/10.