U.S. 64

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U.S. 64 is the longest numbered route in the state, stretching from the Tennessee state line in Cherokee County to Whalebone at Nags Head on the Outer Banks. A winding mountainous route carries U.S. 64 east from Franklin to Transylvania County. Other portions of the highway in the Appalachians consist of four lanes with sweeping curves and higher speed limits.

North from Rutherfordton, U.S. 64 heads to Morganton and Interstate 40. An overlap originally carried both U.S. 64 and U.S. 70 from Morganton eastward to Statesville. U.S. 64 later shifted to a route north via NC 18 to Lenoir and east via NC 90 to Taylorsville and Statesville.

East from Statesville, U.S. 64 parallels Interstate 40 to Mocksville before branching southward to Lexington and Asheboro. The highway expands to four lanes from Asheboro east to Siler City, Pittsboro and Cary. Expected to open in September 2020, a freeway bypass around Asheboro was constructed to the south.

Through the Raleigh area, the U.S. 64 overlaps with the freeway network along portions of U.S. 1, I-40 and I-440. I-87 was established along U.S. 64 in place of I-495 along the Knightdale bypass in 2018. Future I-87 overlays U.S. 64 along the freeway east to Zebulon, Nashville and Rocky Mount.

US 23/64/441 West Split - Franklin, NC

U.S. 64 splits with U.S. 23/441 south at a parclo interchange on the south side of Franklin. U.S. 64 advances west toward the Nantahala Mountains with four lanes for another six miles. 10/26/15

Future I-87 and U.S. 64 continue from Interstate 95 to Tarboro and Williamston. This freeway coincides with U.S. 13 from Bethel east to U.S. 17. U.S. 13/17 split with U.S. 64 for Windsor to the north while U.S. 64 remains a four-lane corridor varying between arterial and freeway to Plymouth and Columbia.

The final stretch of U.S. 64 traverses the lowlands of Terrell and Dare Counties to a terminus at U.S. 158 on the Outer Banks. Before the completion of the Alligator River bridge, U.S. 64 ended at Fort Landing. A more recent realignment shifted the route south from a loop through Manteo onto the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge, a four lane span opened across Croatan Sound in 2002.

U.S. 64 North Carolina Guides

U.S. 64 West
U.S. 158 (Croatan Highway) ends opposite from the westbound beginning of U.S. 64. U.S. 64 continues Virginia Dare Trail west from NC 12 to the Washington Baum Bridge across Roanoke Sound. NC 12 turns southward onto Cape Hatteras National Park Road to Oregon Inlet. 12/26/00
The c/d roadway through the cloverleaf interchange with I-95 merges onto the westbound roadway beyond this confirming marker. 10/12/14
An auxiliary lane accompanies U.S. 64 west to Exit 463 for N Old Carriage Road (SR 1603). 10/12/14
N Old Carriage Rod (SR 1603) runs 3.76 miles north from U.S. 64 at Exit 463 to NC 43 (Red Oak Boulevard) in the town of Red Oak. 10/12/14
U.S. 64 Business - New Bern Avenue
U.S. 64 Business (New Bern Avenue) westbound at Interstate 440 near East Raleigh. U.S. 64 Business combines with the Cliff Benson Beltline south 1.08 miles for the return to U.S. 64 at I-87. 12/24/00
The Knightdale bypass opened in July 2005 as the new alignment for U.S. 64/264. With completion of the freeway, New Bern Avenue became U.S. 64 Business. Interstate 440 was resigned as an east/west route coinciding with the removal of its overlap along I-40. 12/24/00
An end shield for U.S. 264 was previously posted along U.S. 64/264 (New Bern Avenue) west at Interstate 440. U.S. 64/264 were subsequently realigned onto the Knightdale Bypass (I-87). New Bern Avenue west into Raleigh is the old alignment of U.S. 64. 12/24/00
U.S. 64 Business east at the parclo interchange with Interstate 540 outside Knightdale. 05/30/07
U.S. 64 scenes
Smithfield Road north at the U.S. 64/264 westbound on-ramp outside Knightdale. 01/02/08
Lizard Lick Road (SR 2329) north at U.S. 64 (Exit 432) in the unincorporated community of Lizard Lick. 02/15/19
N Old Carriage Road (SR 1603) leads south from the town of Red Oak to meet U.S. 64 at Exit 463. 10/12/14
U.S. 64 Business bridge spanning Croatan Sound between Manns Harbor and Manteo on Roanoke Island. U.S. 64 followed this bridge from 1955 to 2002, shifting to the Virginia Dare Bridge upon its completion. The temperature was 20 degrees Fahrenheit with 30+ mph wind gusts at this time. 12/24/00
The Washington Baum Bridge of U.S. 64 links Manteo with Bodie Island. Carrying five lanes of traffic, the span opened in 1990. 12/26/01



Photo Credits:

12/24/00, 12/26/00, 12/26/01, 05/30/07, 01/02/08, 10/12/14, 02/15/19 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 26
Interstate 40
Interstate 73
Interstate 77
Interstate 85
Interstate 87
Interstate 95
Interstate 285
Interstate 440 / Cliff Benson Beltline
Interstate 587
U.S. 1
U.S. 13
U.S. 17
U.S. 29
U.S. 52
U.S. 70
U.S. 158
U.S. 258
U.S. 264
U.S. 301

Page Updated 08-13-2021.

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