# U.S. Route 17 in North Carolina

U.S. Highway 17 (US 17) in the U.S. state of North Carolina is a north–south highway that is known as the Coastal Highway in the southeastern half of the state and the Ocean Highway in other areas. The route enters the state from South Carolina near Calabash and leaves in the vicinity of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. Between the US 64 freeway and the Virginia state line, US 17 is a four-lane divided highway with speed limits varying between 45 mph (72 km/h) and 70 mph (110 km/h).

## Route description

US 17 enters Brunswick County in Carolina Shores amid a variety of golf course communities. Carolina Shores was part of Calabash until 1998.
In Wilmington, US 17 (here concurrent with US 76 and US 421) crosses the Cape Fear River between New Hanover and Brunswick counties over the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. US 17 then travels east through the city of Wilmington with US 76 on Wooster/Dawson streets and Oleander Drive, intersecting US 117, North Carolina Highway 132 (NC 132), and US 74. At the end of the US 76 concurrency near Wrightsville Beach, US 17 travels north as Military Cutoff Road before meeting up with Market Street and US 17 Business (US 17 Bus.) and exiting the city northeast. North of Holly Ridge, US 17 begins to move further away from the Atlantic Coast. Then, it bypasses Jacksonville along with NC 24. Between New Bern and James City, US 17 (concurrent with US 70 and NC 55) crosses the Trent River by way of the Freedom Memorial Bridge. Farther east, between James City and Bridgeton, US 17, still concurrent with NC 55, crosses the Neuse River over the Neuse River Bridge. Traffic going north on US 17 when using US 70's concurrency can bypass New Bern altogether via NC 43, ironically both the west end of US 17's concurrency on US 70 and NC 43's southern terminus both, respectively have a north and south protrusion of unused highway since full cloverleaf junctions were scrapped in the area.
US 17 enters into Washington as it splits into its business route and mainline freeway bypass, crossing the Pamlico River over the Pamlico–Tar River Bridge on both stretches, shortly before the route intersects with US 264. Farther along in Bear Grass, US 17 joins a concurrency with a limited-access portion of US 13/US 64, although US 64 moves east before US 13/US 17 reaches Williamston, where the limited-access segment ends. US 13/US 17 uses the Roanoke River Bridge to cross the Roanoke River, then, before US 13 moves onto the interchange with North King Street, it crosses the Cashie River Bridge over the Cashie River at Windsor. At the Bertie–Chowan county line, US 17 traverses the Chowan River from Edenhouse to Edenton. East of Edenton, US 17 shares a concurrency with NC 37 until they reach Hertford where it branches off to the northwest onto US 17 Bus. US 17 crosses the Perquimans River via the Perquimans River Bridge. Between Perquimans and Pasquotank counties, US 17 crosses the Little River over the Little River Bridge. A bypass route splits off to the northwest as US 17 (Mainline) continues into Elizabeth City as Hughes Boulevard, picking up concurrency with US 158 until US 158 splits off to the west at Morgan's Corner. US 17 crosses the Pasquotank River between Morgan's Corner in Pasquotank County and South Mills in Camden County, before entering Virginia adjacent to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

## History

US 17 was established in 1927, traversing from South Carolina, near Fair Bluff, to Virginia, near South Mills. Its routing was placed along the following state highways: NC 202, from the South Carolina state line to Chadbourn; NC 20, from Chadbourn to Wilmington; NC 30, from Wilmington to Windsor; NC 342, from Windsor to Elizabeth City; NC 34, from Elizabeth City to Morgan's Corner; and NC 341, from Morgans Corner to the Virginia state line.
In May 2015, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved a request to reroute US 17 back through Wilmington, following US 76 along Oleander Drive and Military Cutoff Road. The justification for the route change was to better serve industry and commerce. In May 2017, US 17 was officially rerouted through Wilmington, ending its northern bypass route.

### Interstate proposals

As a major north–south corridor through the coastal area, US 17 has been the target of various Interstate Highway proposals over the years. The earliest known proposal was in 1964, with a proposal supported by then-Governor Terry Sanford, to build a new Interstate from Fayetteville to Norfolk, Virginia, via US 13 and US 17. Designated Interstate 13 (I-13), it received support from various local officials but was not supported by the North Carolina Highway Commission, which ended discussions.
During the mid-1990s through mid-2000s, I-99 was proposed between Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, Delaware, completely overlapping all of US 17 in North Carolina. In 2006, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) completed a study on the feasibility of the Interstate and concluded with the high cost and disinterest of other states, notably South Carolina, that it was not feasible and recommend to not pursue further.
In 2012, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) backed and presented a letter to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requesting the establishment of a new high priority corridor between Raleigh and Norfolk, designated I-44 (or I-50, with I-56 and I-89 as other possible numbers). This corridor follows US 64 and US 17, north of Williamston. The following year, I-495 was established east of Raleigh and was routed on part of this proposed route. In 2014, various supporters, including Governor Pat McCrory, Representative G. K. Butterfield, NCDOT, and the Regional Transportation Alliance (RTA), made cases and written letters to federal officials in support of the new Interstate corridor. In 2016, AASHTO approved designation of I-87 along US 17 between Williamston and the Virginia state line.

### North Carolina Highway 341

North Carolina Highway 341 (NC 341) was an original state highway that traversed from NC 34, in Morgan's Corner, to South Mills. In 1923, it was extended north to the Virginia state line, meeting up with SR 40. In 1927, it was completely overlapped with US 17, which subsequently replaced it outright in 1934.

## Future

In Chowan County, the existing freeway section of US 17, which bypasses Edenton, will be fully upgraded to modern Interstate standards. At a cost of $13 million, it will mainly focus on widening travel lanes and building shoulders; construction is planned to start in 2025.

## Junction list

| County | Location | mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
| Brunswick | Carolina Shores | 0.0 | 0.0 | | US 17 south – Myrtle Beach | South Carolina state line |
| Brunswick | ​ | | | | I-74 (Carolina Bays Parkway) | Proposed interchange (unfunded) |
| Brunswick | Grissettown | 6.9 | 11.1 | | NC 904 – Ocean Isle Beach, Tabor City | |
| Brunswick | Shallotte | 11.9 | 19.2 | | US 17 Bus. north – Shallotte | |
| Brunswick | Shallotte | 13.2 | 21.2 | | NC 130 – Shallotte, Whiteville | |
| Brunswick | Shallotte | 16.0 | 25.7 | | US 17 Bus. south – Shallotte | |
| Brunswick | Supply | 21.6 | 34.8 | | NC 211 – Bolton, St. James, Southport | |
| Brunswick | ​ | 23.6 | 38.0 | | US 17 Bus. north (Old Ocean Highway) – Bolivia | Superstreet intersection |
| Brunswick | ​ | 28.6 | 46.0 | | NC 906 south (Galloway Road) – Oak Island | Northern terminus of NC 906 |
| Brunswick | Bolivia | 30.5 | 49.1 | | US 17 Bus. south (Old Ocean Highway) – Bolivia | |
| Brunswick | Winnabow | 35.0 | 56.3 | | NC 87 south – Boiling Spring Lakes, Southport | South end of NC 87 overlap |
| Brunswick | ​ | 38.3 | 61.6 | | NC 87 north – Elizabethtown | North end of NC 87 overlap, superstreet intersection |
| Brunswick | ​ | 39.2 | 63.1 | 39 | I-140 east – Topsail Island, Jacksonville, New Bern | I-140 exit 1 |
| Brunswick | Leland | 44.0 | 70.8 | | US 74 / US 76 west – Whiteville | West end of US 74/US 76 overlap; south end of freeway section |
| Brunswick | Leland | 45.0 | 72.4 | | NC 133 south – Belville, Southport, Oak Island | West end of NC 133 overlap |
| Brunswick | ​ | 47.0 | 75.6 | | US 74 east / US 421 / NC 133 north – Wrightsville Beach, Battleship NC, Clinton | East end of US 74 and north end of US 421/NC 133 overlap |
| New Hanover | Cape Fear River | | | Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | Cape Fear Memorial Bridge | Cape Fear Memorial Bridge |
| New Hanover | Wilmington | | | | State Port ( US 421 Truck south) | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; north end of freeway section |
| New Hanover | Wilmington | | | | US 421 south / US 17 Bus. north (3rd Street) – Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Downtown Wilmington | South end of US 421 overlap; to North Carolina Aquarium and Fort Fisher State Park |
| New Hanover | Wilmington | | | | US 117 / NC 132 (College Road) to I-40 – Carolina Beach, UNC Wilmington | Interchange; to the North Carolina State Ports Authority |
| New Hanover | Wilmington | | | | US 74 / US 76 east (Eastwood Road) – Wrightsville Beach | East end of US 76 overlap |
| New Hanover | Wilmington | | | | US 17 Bus. south (Market Street) – Downtown Wilmington | |
| New Hanover | Wilmington | | | | NC 417 north (Military Cutoff Road) | Opened on September 28, 2023; Future US 17 Bypass |
| New Hanover | Kirkland | | | | NC 140 west to I-140 / I-40 – Myrtle Beach, Benson | |
| Pender | Hampstead | 69.1 | 111.2 | | NC 210 west – Rocky Point | West end of NC 210 overlap |
| Pender | ​ | 77.7 | 125.0 | | NC 210 east – Surf City, Topsail Beach | East end of NC 210 overlap |
| Onslow | Holly Ridge | 81.9 | 131.8 | | NC 50 (Ocean Road) – Surf City, Maple Hill | |
| Onslow | Folkstone | 86.3 | 138.9 | | NC 172 north (Sneads Ferry Road) – Sneads Ferry | Southern terminus of NC 172 |
| Onslow | Dixon | 89.9 | 144.7 | | NC 210 west (Rifle Range Road) – Topsail Beach, Sneads Ferry | Southern terminus of NC 210 |
| Onslow | Jacksonville | 101.2 | 162.9 | | US 17 Bus. north – Jacksonville | South end of freeway section; northbound left exit and southbound entrance |
| Onslow | Jacksonville | 101.6 | 163.5 | | NC 24 west to US 258 – Richlands, Kinston | West end of NC 24 overlap; southbound access to US 17 Bus. northbound |
| Onslow | Jacksonville | 104.6 | 168.3 | | Montford Point Road | Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| Onslow | Jacksonville | 105.0 | 169.0 | 109 | NC 24 east / NC 24 Bus. west – Camp Lejeune, Morehead City | East end of NC 24 overlap |
| Onslow | Jacksonville | 106.4 | 171.2 | 110 | West Huff Drive | |
| Onslow | Jacksonville | 107.2 | 172.5 | 111 | US 17 Bus. south to US 258 / Jacksonville Parkway – Jacksonville (Downtown) | North end of freeway section; no exit number southbound |
| Jones | Maysville | 120.5 | 193.9 | | NC 58 south – Cape Cateret, Emerald Isle | South end of NC 58 overlap |
| Jones | Pollocksville | 127.5 | 205.2 | 130 | NC 58 north – Trenton | North end of NC 58 overlap |
| Jones | ​ | 132.7 | 213.6 | 136 | US 17 Bus. north – New Bern | At-grade intersection; south end of expressway section |
| Craven | ​ | 132.8 | 213.7 | 141B | US 70 west – Kinston | South end of US 70 overlap; left entrance northbound, left exits; US 70 exit 410A |
| Craven | ​ | 139.1 | 223.9 | 411 | NC 43 north – Greenville, Vanceboro | Southern terminus of NC 43; exit numbers follow US 70 |
| Craven | New Bern | 141.3 | 227.4 | | Glenburnie Road – Craven Community College | |
| Craven | New Bern | 142.3 | 229.0 | 414 | US 17 Bus. – New Bern, Jacksonville | |
| Craven | New Bern | 143.9 | 231.6 | 416 | NC 55 west (Pembroke Road) – Trent Woods | West end of NC 55 overlap |
| Craven | James City | 145.1 | 233.5 | 417 | US 70 east / East Front Street ( US 17 Bus. south) – New Bern, Havelock, Morehead City | Signed as exits 417A (Front St.) and 417B (US 70); east end of US 70 overlap; exit to US 70 east not numbered northbound; US 70 west exit 417B |
| Craven | Bridgeton | 147.8 | 237.9 | | NC 55 east – Bayboro | East end of NC 55 overlap |
| Craven | Emul | 158.2 | 254.6 | | NC 43 south (Weyerhaeuser Road) – New Bern | South end of NC 43 overlap |
| Craven | Vanceboro | 161.7 | 260.2 | | US 17 Bus. / NC 43 north – Vanceboro, Greenville | North end of NC 43 overlap |
| Craven | Vanceboro | 165.1 | 265.7 | | US 17 Bus. south – Vanceboro | |
| Beaufort | ​ | 172.0 | 276.8 | | NC 102 west – Ayden | Eastern terminus of NC 102 |
| Beaufort | ​ | 177.1 | 285.0 | | US 17 Bus. north – Chocowinity | Superstreet intersection, south end of freeway |
| Beaufort | Chocowinity | 177.9 | 286.3 | 176 | NC 33 – Chocowinity, Greenville | Folded Diamond Interchange |
| Beaufort | Washington | 181.9 | 292.7 | 180 | US 264 – Washington, Greenville | |
| Beaufort | Washington | 182.7 | 294.0 | | US 17 Bus. south (Carolina Avenue) – Washington | Superstreet intersection; north end of freeway |
| Beaufort | Old Ford | 187.2 | 301.3 | | NC 171 north – Jamesville | Southern terminus of NC 171 |
| Martin | Williamston | 200.5 | 322.7 | 514 | US 13 south / US 64 west / US 17 Bus. north – Williamston, Tarboro | South end of US 13 and west end of US 64 overlap |
| Martin | Williamston | 202.0 | 325.1 | 515 | US 64 east – Plymouth, Manteo | East end of US 64 overlap; southbound access via US 64 Alt. |
| Martin | Williamston | 202.2 | 325.4 | | US 64 Alt. (Jamesville Road) to US 64 east | |
| Martin | Williamston | 203.4 | 327.3 | | US 17 Bus. south (Main Street) | |
| Bertie | Windsor | 214.6 | 345.4 | | US 13 north / US 17 Byp. north – Ahoskie, Edenton | North end of US 13 and south end of US 13 Bus overlap |
| Bertie | Windsor | 214.7 | 345.5 | | US 13 Bus. north (Granville Street) | North end of US 13 Bus overlap |
| Bertie | Windsor | 215.6 | 347.0 | | NC 308 west (King Street) | West end of NC 308 overlap |
| Bertie | Windsor | 216.8 | 348.9 | | NC 308 east (Cooper Hill Road) | East end of NC 308 overlap |
| Bertie | ​ | 222.5 | 358.1 | | US 17 Byp. south – Williamston | |
| Bertie | Midway | 225.9 | 363.6 | | NC 45 – Plymouth, Colerain | |
| Bertie | Chowan River | | | Eden House Bridge; south end of expressway | Eden House Bridge; south end of expressway | Eden House Bridge; south end of expressway |
| Chowan | ​ | 232.9 | 374.8 | 224 | US 17 Bus. north (Queen Street) – Edenton | |
| Chowan | Edenton | 235.0 | 378.2 | 226 | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue | |
| Chowan | Edenton | 236.1 | 380.0 | 227 | NC 32 (Virginia Road) – Edenton | |
| Chowan | Edenton | 237.2 | 381.7 | 228 | Paradise Road | |
| Chowan | ​ | 238.7 | 384.2 | 230 | US 17 Bus. south (Broad Street) – Edenton | North end of expressway |
| Perquimans | ​ | 240.9 | 387.7 | | NC 37 south – Plymouth, Columbia | South end of NC 37 overlap |
| Perquimans | Hertford | 246.8 | 397.2 | | US 17 Bus. north – Hertford | |
| Perquimans | Winfall | 250.0 | 402.3 | | US 17 Bus. south / NC 37 north – Hertford | North end of NC 37 overlap |
| Pasquotank | Rabbit Corner | 257.9 | 415.0 | 254 | Okisko Road | South end of freeway section |
| Pasquotank | ​ | 258.5 | 416.0 | 255 | US 17 Byp. north – Chesapeake VA | North end of freeway section; northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| Pasquotank | Elizabeth City | 263.2 | 423.6 | | US 17 Bus. north (Ehringhaus Street) – Elizabeth City | |
| Pasquotank | Elizabeth City | 263.6 | 424.2 | | NC 344 (Halstead Boulevard) – Weeksville | |
| Pasquotank | Elizabeth City | 264.7 | 426.0 | | US 158 east (Elizabeth Street) – Camden, Outer Banks | East end of US 158 overlap |
| Pasquotank | Elizabeth City | 265.6 | 427.4 | | US 17 Bus. south (Road Street south) | |
| Pasquotank | ​ | 272.9 | 439.2 | 264 | US 17 Byp. south to US 158 – Hertford, Edenton | Partial interchange; at-grade access to southbound/from northbound, left exit southbound, left entrance northbound; US 17 Byp. exit 264 |
| Pasquotank | Morgans Corner | 276.0 | 444.2 | | US 158 west – Sunbury | West end of US 158 overlap |
| Camden | South Mills | 277.4 | 446.4 | | US 17 Bus. north – South Mills, Nags Head | |
| Camden | ​ | 279.8 | 450.3 | | US 17 Bus. south / NC 343 – South Mills, Camden | |
| Camden | ​ | 286.0 | 460.3 | | US 17 north – Chesapeake | Virginia state line |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus Incomplete access Unopened |||||||

## Special routes

There are numerous existing and former special routes of US 17 within the state of North Carolina.