U.S. 74 West - Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

Home » Guides » North Carolina » U.S. 74 West - Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

U.S. 74 West
U.S. 74 at the separation with Interstate 40 west by Chambers Mountain. 10/26/15
U.S. 74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) leads south from the trumpet interchange with I-40 across the Pigeon River. 10/26/15
U.S. 74 converges with U.S. 19/23 (Carolina Boulevard) south between the town of Clyde and Jones Cove Road at Exits 107/106. 10/26/15
Exit 107 joins U.S. 19/23 southbound ahead of Jones Cove Road (SR 1532/1800). U.S. 64 Truck follows the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway west to U.S. 23/441 south at Dillsboro. 10/26/15
Exit 106 loops onto U.S. 19/23 (Carolina Boulevard) northbound into the town of Clyde. 10/26/15
Advancing west from the trumpet interchange with Carolina Boulevard, U.S. 19/23 south combine with U.S. 74 west ahead of Exit 105 for Jones Cove Road (SR 1527) and Paragon Parkway (SR 1646). 10/26/15
U.S. 19 U.S. 23 South U.S. 74 West
Jones Cove Road (SR 1527) heads north to residential areas near Lake Junaluska and south as SR 1800 past Haywood Regional Medical Center to Jones Cove. 10/26/15
U.S. 19/23/74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) continue west to U.S. 23 Business (Asheville Road) south and NC 209 (Crabtree Road) north at Tuscola Park and Lake Junaluska. 10/26/15
U.S. 23 Business runs 6.04 miles southwest through the town of Waynesville, NC 209 (Crabtree Road) heads north from the community of Lake Junaluska 3.57 miles to I-40 and overall 36.47 miles from Exit 104 to Hot Springs. 10/26/15
Exit 104 is a folded diamond interchange with ramps tieing into Paragon Parkway (SR 1646) and Liner Cove Road (SR 1801) to adjacent retail. 10/26/15
West Carolina University lies south of Sylva along NC 107. 10/26/15
The 2.02 mile long overlap with U.S. 23/74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) concludes at Exit 103, where U.S. 19 shifts onto Dellwood Road along the west side of Lake Junaluska. 10/26/15
U.S. 19 (Dellwood Road) generally travels west from Lake Junaluska to the town of Maggie Valley, Cherokee and back to U.S. 74 south of Bryson City. 10/26/15
U.S. 19 follows a winding course 23 miles west from the wye interchange at Exit 103 to Cherokee across Soco Gap. A truck route for U.S. 19 accompanies U.S. 74 west to U.S. 441 north at Exit 74. 10/26/15
U.S. 23 South U.S. 74 West
U.S. 23/74 cross Richland Creek south of Fairway Hills and advance southwest to a parclo interchange (Exit 102) with U.S. 276 (Russ Avenue). 10/26/15
The succeeding three exits from the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway westbound fall within the town of Waynesville. The Jackson County seat of Sylva is 20 miles to the southwest. 10/26/15
U.S. 276 (Russ Avenue) connects Waynesville with Maggie Valley via an overlap with U.S. 19 (Dellwood Road) at Ivy Hills. South from Waynesville, U.S. 276 traverses Pisgah Ridge to Brevard and the Blue Ridge Mountains to Greenville, South Carolina. 10/26/15
Bypassing Waynesville to the west, U.S. 23/74 run along eastern reaches of Eaglenest Mountain to a split diamond interchange (Exit 100) with Eagles Nest Road (SR 1177) and Hazelwood Avenue (SR 1173). 10/26/15
U.S. 23/74 navigate through an S-curve by Shingle Cove. 10/26/15
Elysinia Avenue extends SR 1177 southeast from Exit 100 to Hazelwood Avenue and the industrial south side of Waynesville. Plott Creek Road (SR 1173) continues west from the return ramp to U.S. 23/74 at Hazelwood. 10/26/15
The dumbbell interchange at Exit 98 joins U.S. 23/74 with the south end of U.S. 23 Business along Hyatt Creek Road. 10/26/15
Hyatt Creek Road (SR 1164) loops around Little Mountain, 1.16 miles west from Exit 98 to Hyatt Creek and U.S. 23/74 near Saunook. U.S. 23 Business turns onto Main Street north through Waynesville, 0.20 miles to the east. 10/26/15
Leading away from Waynesville, U.S. 23/74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) curves alongside Little Mountain and Richland Creek. 10/26/15
U.S. 23/74 transition into an at-grade arterial. The next expressway section bypasses Sylva, 15 miles to the southwest. 10/26/15
Hyatt Creek Road (SR 1160) spans U.S. 23/74 (Great Smoky Mountain Expressway) south to SR 1243 (Old Balsam Road) at Saunook. 08/13/04
Constructed in 2015, Haywood County Rest Area lines the north side of U.S. 23/74 beyond Orion Davis Road (SR 1159). 10/26/15
The original Haywood County Rest Area lines the south side of U.S. 23/74 west of Walker Road (SR 1157) and Red Bank Road (SR 1155). The facility serves eastbound traffic. 10/26/15
The Blue Ridge Parkway traverses Great Balsam Mountain north to Pinnacle Ridge and U.S. 23/74 at Balsam Gap. Maintained by the National Park Service, the scenic byway is open to passenger vehicles only. 10/26/15
An access road links U.S. 23/74 with Blue Ridge Parkway at Clark. The scenic roadway climbs northward onto Cutoff Ridge, crossing the Plott Balsams mountain range northwest to U.S. 19 at Soco Gap. 10/26/15
The Blue Ridge Parkway spans U.S. 23/74, as it does other major routes between the south end at U.S. 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains and the north end at Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia. 10/26/15
U.S. 23/74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) cross the Jackson County line just beyond the Blue Ridge Parkway overpass at Balsam Gap. 10/26/15
Candlestick Lane (SR 1471) connects U.S. 23/74 with Cabin Flats Road (SR 1701) south to the community of Balsam. 10/26/15
Paralleling Scott Creek, U.S. 23/74 continues through a series of S-curves around Judaculla Mountain. 10/26/15
U.S. 23/74 lower with a 7% grade over the ensuing two miles beyond Candlestick Lane to Balsam. 10/26/15
Hutchinson Road (SR 1576) and Balsam Loop Road (SR 1472) come together at the succeeding intersection along U.S. 23/74 westbound. 10/26/15
Crawford Cemetery Road (SR 1461) spurs west onto Cutoff Ridge. 10/26/15
U.S. 23/74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway) advances west between Cope Mountain and Carver Mountain toward the town of Sylva. 10/26/15
The Great Smoky Mountains Expressway upgrades to a limited access bypass of Sylva at the forthcoming split (Exit 85) with U.S. 23 Business (Asheville Highway) south. 10/26/15
U.S. 23 Business through Sylva is part of a 4.17 mile long route west to U.S. 23/441 at the town of Dillsboro. 10/26/15
U.S. 23/74 bypassing Sylva is also designated the Marcellus Buchanan III Highway. This sign stands ahead of the intersection with Steeple Road (SR 1527). 10/26/15
U.S. 23 Business links U.S. 23/74 with NC 107 (E Main Street) east of Downtown Sylva. NC 107 runs east of Kings Mountain southward to Southwestern Community College and Western Carolina University at Cullowhee. 10/26/15
Exit 85 departs U.S. 23/74 west for U.S. 23 Business (Asheville Highway) south to NC 107. A multi state highway with S.C. 107, NC 107 travels 34.93 miles overall from Sylva south to Webster and Cashiers. 10/26/15
U.S. 23/74 curve northward from the wye interchange at Exit 83 across Scott Creek and Skyland Drive (Old U.S. 19/23). 10/26/15
Perry Top rises north of Sylva from the Plott Balsams mountain chain. 10/26/15
Encircling Sylva to the north, U.S. 23/74 proceed one mile to a trumpet interchange with SR 1513 (Grindstaff Cove Road). 10/26/15
Grindstaff Cove Road heads 0.72 miles south from Exit 83 to the adjacent Jackson County Courthouse complex and U.S. 23 Business (Mill Street) in Downtown Sylva. 10/26/15
Straddling southern reaches of the Plott Balsams mountains, U.S. 23/74 advances west past Dills Cove and Monteith Cove. 10/26/15
Cherokee lies 14 miles to the northwest via U.S. 74 to U.S. 441. Bryson City follows along parallel U.S. 19 in 18 miles. 10/26/15
U.S. 23 south parts ways with U.S. 74 west for U.S. 441 south to Dillsboro, Franklin and North Georgia at forthcoming Exit 81. U.S. 23/441 overlap for 72.4 miles to Hollywood, Georgia. U.S. 23 travels southwest from there to I-985 and Atlanta. 10/26/15
U.S. 23/441 combine south 0.64 miles to U.S. 23 Business (Haywood Road) at the town of Dillsboro. Dillsboro is the east end of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, a tourist line west to Bryson City. 10/26/15
The truck route for U.S. 64 coincides with U.S. 23/441 south 18.1 miles to U.S. 64 at the town of Franklin. The truck route originated along I-26 west from Hendersonville. 10/26/15
A parclo interchange joins U.S. 23/74/441 at Exit 81. South from Western North Carolina, U.S. 441 travels to Cornelia and Athens, Georgia. 10/26/15
U.S. 74 West U.S. 441 North
U.S. 74/441 overlap 7.59 miles northwest to Gateway. The ensuing stretch travels at-grade. 09/12/04
U.S. 441 separates from U.S. 74 west at a trumpet interchange (Exit 74) north to Qualla, Cherokee and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 08/13/04
The south end of Blue Ridge Parkway ties into U.S. 441 between Cherokee and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The scenic byway meanders east across Rattlesnake Mountain to U.S. 19 at Soco Gap. 08/13/04
U.S. 441 continues five miles north from Exit 74 to U.S. 19 in Cherokee and the Cherokee Indian Reservation. U.S. 441 travels across the Great Smoky Mountains to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 08/13/04
U.S. 74 West
U.S 74 parallels Gateway Road (SR 1532) and the Tuckasegee River west through Thomas Valley. 07/05/14
SR 1531 (Highway 19-A) stems north from a trumpet interchange (Exit 72) to the community of Whittier in a half mile. 07/05/14
SR 1195 (Highway 19-A) parallels the Tuckasegee River northwest from Exit 72, 2.13 miles to U.S. 19 (Ela Road) at the unincorporated community of Ela. 07/05/14
Crossing the Tuckasegee River, U.S. 74 (Great Smokey Mountains Expressway) west enters Swain County. 07/05/14
Exits 69, 67, and 64 serve the Swain County seat of Bryson City over the succeeding eight miles. The town lies on the Tuckaseegee River east of Fontana Lake. 07/05/14
U.S. 74 straddle northern reaches of the Alarka Mountains west to the diamond interchange (Exit 69) with Hyatt Creek Road (SR 1190). 07/05/14
Hyatt Creek Road extends 1.70 miles north from Exit 69 as SR 1168 to U.S. 19 (Ela Road). U.S. 19 runs east to Birdtown and Cherokee. 07/05/14
U.S. 74 lower at a 5% grade by Battle Cove to Exit 69 for Hyatt Creek Road. Walker Woody Road parallels the freeway and Tuckasegee River 1.33 miles west from SR 1190 to U.S. 19 (Governors Island Road) leading into Bryson City. 07/05/14
U.S. 74 continues west 33 miles to Andrews and 49 miles to the Cherokee County seat of Murphy. 07/05/14
U.S. 74 spans Shepherds Creek Road (SR 1166) one mile ahead of the modified diamond interchange (Exit 67) with U.S. 19 Connector (Veterans Boulevard) north. 07/05/14
U.S. 19 Connector (Veterans Boulevard) runs 0.71 miles north from SR 1188 near Rocky Face Mountain to U.S. 19 (Main Street) near Downtown Bryson City. 07/05/14
U.S. 74 straddles the Bryson City town line southwest on the ensuing stretch west from Exit 67. 07/05/14
U.S. 74 proceeds eight miles to NC 28 near Almond and 22 miles southwest to U.S. 129 at Topton. Located along U.S. 129, Robbinsville lies 28 miles to the west via NC 28 and NC 143. 07/05/14
U.S. 74 west and U.S. 19 south converge at a parclo interchange (Exit 64) with Alarka Road (SR 1140). 07/05/14
U.S. 19 heads two miles north from U.S. 74 at Alarka Road across Robinson Gap over the Jackson Line Mountains to the Bryson City town limits. 07/05/14
Alarka Road ties into SR 1309 (Lower Alarka Road), the old alignment of U.S. 19, and SR 1373 (Dehart Cemetary Road) just west of Exit 64. 08/13/04


 


Photo Credits:

  • 08/13/04 by Carter Buchanan.
  • 09/12/04 by Carter Buchanan.
  • 07/05/14 by AARoads.
  • 10/26/15 by AARoads.

Connect with:
U.S. 19
U.S. 23
U.S. 276
U.S. 441

Page Updated 05-12-2021.

Go to Top