North Carolina Highway 42

NC 42
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length:	229 mi (369 km)
Existed:	1922 – present
Major junctions
West end:	I-73 / I-74 / US 220 in Asheboro
	US 64 in Asheboro US 1 / US 15 / US 501 in Sanford US 421 in Sanford US 401 in Fuquay-Varina I-40 near Cleveland, Johnston County US 70 in Clayton I-95 near Wilson US 264 near Wilson US 301 in Wilson US 258 near Pinetops US 64 near Bethel US 13 in Ahoskie
East end:	NC 45 in Colerain
Location
Counties:	Randolph, Chatham, Lee, Wake, Johnston, Wilson, Edgecombe, Bertie, Martin, Hertford
Highway system
North Carolina Highway System ← NC 41 NC 43 →

NC 42 is a winding country state highway that bypasses many of the larger cities in the eastern/central part of North Carolina. Despite its long length (229 miles), it is not noted for being convenient for long-distance travel; US 64 often provides a shorter, faster alternative routing for a large part of NC 42's length. Because it is well connected to many other major Interstate and US routes, NC 42 is a local connector for smaller communities along its route.

History

NC 42 was first dedicated in 1922 as a modest 19-mile (31 km) connector from Wilson to Pinetops. In the 1930s & 40s it was extended west to Clayton, and by 1950 it reached Fuquay-Varina. In the late 50s, early 60s it was extended in both directions to Conetoe in the east and Asheboro to the west. The last extension came in 1990 to meet with the I 73/74/US 220 freeway in Asheboro.

Major intersections

County	Location	Destinations	Notes
Randolph	Asheboro	I-73 / I-74 / US 220 – Star, Greensboro	Western terminus
		US 220 Bus. (Fayetteville Street)
		US 64 (Dixie Drive) / NC 49 – Lexington, Richfield, Ramseur
	Coleridge	NC 22 north – Ramseur, Climax	West end of concurrency with NC 22
Chatham	Bennett	NC 902 east – Bear Creek, Pittsboro	Western terminus of NC 902
		NC 22 south – Carthage, Southern Pines	East end of concurrency with NC 22
Lee	Sanford	US 1 / US 15 / US 501 (Jefferson Davis Highway) / US 1 Bus. – Tramway, Moncure, Pittsboro	West end of concurrency with Business US 1; Diamond interchange
		US 421 north / NC 87 north (Horner Boulevard) / US 1 Bus. north (Carthage Street) – Goldston, Pittsboro	West end of concurrency with US 421 and NC 87; East end of concurrency with Business US 1
		US 421 south / NC 87 south (Horner Boulevard) / NC 78 west (Main Street) – Lillington, Spring Lake	East end of concurrency with US 421 and NC 87; Western terminus of NC 78
		Oscar Keller Jr. Highway
Chatham	No major intersections
Harnett	No major intersections
Wake	Fuquay-Varina	US 401 south (Main Street) – Buies Creek	West end of concurrency with US 401
		NC 55 west (Broad Street) – Holly Springs, Apex	West end of concurrency with NC 55
		US 401 north (Main Street) – Raleigh	East end of concurrency with US 401
		NC 55 east – Angier	East end of concurrency with NC 55
Johnston		NC 50 – Benson, Garner, Raleigh
		I-40 – Raleigh, Benson	Diamond interchange; Exit 312
	Clayton	US 70 – Raleigh, Princeton	Diamond interchange
		US 70 Bus. west	West end of concurrency with Business US 70
		US 70 Bus. east	East end of concurrency with Business US 70
		NC 96 – Selma, Zebulon
		NC 39 – Selma, Emit
	Stancils Chapel	NC 222 – Kenly, Emit
Wilson		NC 581 – Goldsboro, Bailey
	Rock Ridge	I-95 – Kenly, Rocky Mount	Diamond interchange; Exit 116
	Wilson	I-795 / US 264 – Bailey, Fremont, Saratoga	Partial cloverleaf interchange
		US 264 Alt. east (Ward Boulevard)	West end of concurrency with Alternate US 64
		US 264 Alt. west (Raleigh Road)	East end of concurrency with Alternate US 64
		NC 58 north (Nash Street) – Nashville	West end of concurrency with NC 58
		NC 58 south (Ward Boulevard) – Stantonburg	East end of concurrency with NC 58
		US 301 – Lucama, Elm City	Partial cloverleaf interchange
Edgecombe		NC 124 east – Macclesfield	Western terminus of NC 124
	Pinetops	NC 111 (Saratoga Road) – Saratoga, Tarboro
		NC 43 north (3rd Street) – Rocky Mount	West end of concurrency with NC 43
		NC 122 (2nd Street) – Macclesfield, Tarboro
		US 258 – Fountain, Tarboro
		NC 124 west – Macclesfield	Eastern terminus of NC 124
		NC 43 south – Greenville	East end of concurrency with NC 43
	Old Sparta	NC 33 – Princeville, Greenville
	Conetoe	US 64 Alt. (Canal Street)
		US 64 – Princeville, Tarboro, Robersonville, Everetts	Diamond interchange
Martin		NC 142 west	West end of concurrency with NC 142
	Hassell	NC 11 south / NC 142 east – Bethel	West end of concurrency with NC 11; East end of concurrency with NC 142
	Oak City	NC 125 (Cherry Street) – Hamilton, Hobgood
		NC 903 – Hamilton, Robersonville, Scotland Neck
Bertie	Lewiston	NC 308 (Church Street/Governors Road) – Windsor, Kelford
		NC 11 Bus. north	Southern terminus of Business NC 11
	Aulander	NC 305 (Commerce Street) – Rich Square
Hertford		NC 11 Bus. south	Northern terminus of Business NC 11
	Poor Town	NC 11 north – Murfreesboro	East end of concurrency with NC 11
	Ahoskie	US 13 north (Academy Street) / NC 561 west – Winton, Rich Square	West end of concurrency with US 13 and NC 561
		NC 561 east – Harrellsville	East end of concurrency with NC 561
Bertie	Powellsville	US 13 south – Windsor	East end of concurrency with US 13
	Colerain	NC 45 (Main Street) – Plymouth, Harrellsville, Cofield	Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi      Concurrency terminus •      Closed/former •      Incomplete access •      Unopened