U.S. Route 76

U.S. Route 76
Route information
Length:	548 mi (882 km)
Existed:	1926 – present
Major junctions
West end:	US-11 / US-41 / US-64 / US-72 in Chattanooga, TN
	I-75 in Dalton, GA I-85 near Anderson, SC I-26 / I-77 in Columbia, SC US 176 / US 321 / US 21 / US 1 in Columbia, SC US 401 / US 15 / US 521 in Sumter, SC I-95 / I-20 Bus. in Florence, SC US 701 in Whiteville, NC US 17 in Wilmington, NC
East end:	Wrightsville Beach, NC
Highway system
United States Numbered Highways List • Bannered • Divided • Replaced ← SR-75 TN SR-76 → ← SR 75 GA SR 77 → ← SC 75 SC I-77 → ← NC 75 NC I-77 →

U.S. Route 76 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 548 miles (882 km) from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Route description

Tennessee

In the state of Tennessee, U.S. Route 76 is an arterial road that runs east-southeast from downtown Chattanooga to East Ridge and south to Georgia. U.S. 76 runs concurrent with U.S. 41 for its entire length in Tennessee, about 8.8 miles (14.2 km).

Georgia

In Georgia, the highway traverses the northern part of the state and passes through the Chattahoochee National Forest and Georgia's most mountainous region. From east to west, U.S. 76 passes through Rabun, Towns, Union, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Whitfield, and Catoosa counties.

A significant section of US 76 was relocated in Georgia during the 1980s with the old alignment decommissioned first in 1982 from the Hemptown community in Fannin County westward and eastward into Union County in 1988. Extending from west of Blue Ridge to Blairsville, the 35-mile (56 km) stretch of road today is known as Blue Ridge Highway and Old Hwy 76 including the city of Morganton. In Morganton, the stretch is joined briefly by SR 60, and in Blairsville a small portion of the route is unofficially part of US 19/129. This old alignment from Blairsville to Blue Ridge is approximately 37 miles (60 km) long and has some of Georgia's most scenic views along its eastern end. This stretch was formerly part of SR 2 as well.

U.S. 76 also has other old alignments in Ellijay (by-passed in 1982), Cherry Log, Whitepath (both by-passed in 1989) and south of Blue Ridge (by-passed in 1965). U.S. 76 was also relocated from present-day SR 52 from Ellijay to Chatsworth in 1981 to a less treacherous course along SR 282. Significant curve realignments also occurred along the previously serpentine section from Hiawassee to Clayton from 1988 to 2005. Today US 76 shares mileage with State Routes 5, 515, 282, 61, 52, 17, 75, 15 and 3 in addition to SR 2. U.S. highways with common mileage include U.S. 411, 41, 441 and 23.

South Carolina

U.S. 76 enters South Carolina across the Chattooga River, then continues southeast toward Westminster. This segment is a moderately windy two-lane road. In Westminster, it heads east toward Seneca and Clemson. From Clemson, the road heads southeast toward Anderson, intersecting Interstate 85, then east toward the small towns of Belton and Honea Path. U.S. 76 is a four-lane highway from Westminster to Anderson. In Anderson the road widens to six lanes with a reversible turn lane. After a concurrency with U.S. 178, the road goes to five lanes, and as it goes south towards downtown Anderson, it goes back to four. However, the sections around Seneca, Clemson, and Anderson are well developed with many traffic lights. It is cosigned with U.S. 123 from Westminster to Clemson, S.C. 28 from Seneca to Anderson, and U.S. 178 from Anderson to Honea Path.

Formerly, U.S. 76 followed a longer route from Westminster to Pendleton. From Westminster, the old route followed S-37-13 through the Richland community, then its current alignment to S.C. 59 into downtown Seneca, then S.C. 130 out of Seneca to S-37-1, then its current alignment to S.C. 93 toward Clemson University, then Business S.C. 28 through Pendleton.

From Honea Path, the road heads east to Laurens. This section is a rural two lane road that is not frequently traveled. From Laurens, U.S. 76 roughly parallels I-385 and I-26 as it heads to Columbia. U.S. 76 provides local access to the communities of Laurens, Clinton, Newberry, Prosperity, Chapin and the other smaller towns in the area. In Irmo, U.S. 76 merges with U.S. 176, then continues on to I-26. After the interchange with I-20, U.S. 76 splits off from I-26 and continues into downtown Columbia cosigned with I-126.

In Columbia, U.S. 76 follows Elmwood Ave, Bull St, Gervais St., Millwood Ave., and Devine St., before heading east toward Sumter. The segment from Columbia to Sumter is a four lane highway and 76 is cosigned with U.S. 378 from the intersection of Bull and Gervais near the University of South Carolina in Columbia all the way to Sumter. From Sumter, U.S. 76 heads northeast to Florence. U.S. 76 is the major road through Florence. U.S. 76 then continues east out of Florence to the small towns of Marion and Mullins, then into North Carolina. It is cosigned with U.S. 301 from Florence to across the Pee Dee River.

North Carolina

The highway passes through Fair Bluff and becomes concurrent with US 74 from Chadbourn to Wilmington. The highway is mostly four lanes, divided with at-grade and controlled intersections. The speed limit is from 45 mph (72 km/h) to 70 mph (110 km/h). It crosses the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge into Wilmington and continues to Wrightsville Beach via Oleander Drive to the route's eastern terminus. US 76 traverses 80.3 miles (129.2 km) in North Carolina; approximately 54 miles (87 km) concurrent with US 74, between Chadbourn and Wilmington.

Junction list

Mileposts reset at state line crossings.

South Carolina

County	Location	Mile	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Horry		0.1		SC 9 east – Green Sea	East end of SC 9 overlap
Marion	Nichols	0.3		SC 9 west – Lake View	West end of SC 9 overlap
	Mullins	0.4		SC 41 / SC 917 – Smithboro, Green Sea
	Marion	0.5		US 501 – Dillon, Conway
		0.6		US 501 Bus. / SC 41 Alt.
		0.7		SC 576 south
		0.9		US 301 north – Latta	North end of US 301 overlap
Florence	Mars Bluff	0.10		SC 327 south – Claussen	South end of US 76/301 overlap
		0.11		US 301 south / SC 327 north – Effingham	South end of US 301 overlap North end of US 76 overlap
	Florence	0.12		US 52 – Darlington, Effingham
		0.14		I-20 Bus. west (David McLeod Blvd.) – Bishopville
		0.15		SC 51 south – Evergreen
		0.16		I-95 – Manning, Dillon
	Timmonsville	0.17		SC 403 north – Oats	South end of SC 403 overlap
		0.19		SC 403 south – Sardis	North end of SC 403 overlap
Lee	Lynchburg	0.20		SC 341 – Elliot, Olanta
		0.21		SC 527 – Elliot, Saradina
Sumter	Mayesville	0.22		SC 154 north – St. Charles
	Sumter	0.23		US 378 east / US 76 Bus. west – Turbeville, Sumter	East end of US 378 overlap
		0.24		US 401 – Sumter, Oswego
		0.25		US 15 (Main St.) – Manville, Paxville
		0.27		US 521 east / US 76 Bus. – Rembert, Brogdon, Sumter
		0.29		SC 441 – Woodrow, Sumter
	Stateburg	0.30		SC 261 – Horatio, Wedgefield
Richland	Eastover	0.33		SC 263 south – Eastover
		0.34		US 601 – Eastover, Lugoff
		0.35		SC 764 south – Eastover
	Horrell Hill	0.37		SC 769 south – Congaree
		0.39		SC 768 south – Lykes
	Columbia	0.40		I-77 – Cayce, Winnsboro
		0.41		SC 262 west
		0.42		SC 760 (Ft. Jackson Blvd.)
		0.43		SC 16 – Forest Lakes, Cayce
		0.45		US 1 north – Forest Acres	North end of US 1 overlap
		0.46		US 1 south / US 378 west – West Columbia	South end of US 1 overlap West end of US 378 overlap
		0.48		SC 12 (Taylor St.)
		0.51		SC 277 north – Dentsville
		US 76 overlaps with Interstate 126
		US 76 overlaps with Interstate 26 (exits 101 to 108)
	Ballentine	0.55		US 176 north – Peak	North end of US 176 overlap
		0.57		SC 6 east – Irmo
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi      Concurrency terminus •      Closed/former •      Incomplete access •      Unopened

North Carolina

County	Location	Mile	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Columbus	Fair Bluff	3		NC 904 (Conway Road) – Rowland, Tabor City	Brief .4 miles (0.64 km) concurrency
	Cerro Gordo	9.5		NC 242 north (Haynes Lennon Highway) – Bladenboro
	Chadbourn	15		US 74 Bus. / US 76 Bus. east / NC 130 / NC 410 (Joe Brown Highway) – Bladenboro, Tabor City
		16.5		US 74 (Andrew Jackson Highway) – Lumberton	West end of US 74 overlap, eastbound entrance and westbound exit
		19		Union Valley Road – Union Valley
	Whiteville	22		US 701 – Whiteville, Clarkton
		25		US 74 Bus. west / US 76 Bus. west – Whiteville	Also to NC 214
	Bolton	39		NC 211 – Clarkton, Bolton, Supply
		42		NC 214 west – Bolton, Lake Waccamaw	Western terminus of NC 214
	Freeman	47		NC 11 north – Sandyfield	Southern terminus of NC 11
	Delco	51		NC 87 north – Riegelwood	North end of NC 87 overlap
Brunswick	Maco	56		NC 87 south – Bishop	South end of NC 87 overlap
	Leland	61		Lanvale Road – Leland
		65		US 17 south – Town Creek, Winnabow	South end of US 17 overlap
		65.5		NC 133 south – Belville, Southport	South end of NC 133 overlap
		67.5		US 17 / US 421 / NC 133 north / US 74 east – Wrightsville Beach, Hampstead, Hightsville, Clinton	North end of US 17/US 421/NC 133 overlap, east end of US 74 overlap, south end of US 17 Business overlap
New Hanover	Wilmington	68.5		US 421 south (3rd St) / US 17 Bus. north – Carolina Beach, DOWNTOWN Wilmington	South end of US 421 overlap, north end of US 17 Business overlap
		72		US 117 / NC 132 (College Rd.) – Carolina Beach, Castle Hayne
		76		US 74 west (Eastwood Road)	West end of US 74 overlap
	Wrightsville Beach	77.5		US 74 east (Salisbury Street)	East end of US 74 overlap
		78.5		Waynick Boulevard	End of US 76 is 1.7 miles (2.7 km) from intersection, south on Waynick Boulevard/Lumina Avenue
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi      Concurrency terminus •      Closed/former •      Incomplete access •      Unopened

Bannered routes

South Carolina business loops

There are two U.S. Route 76 business loops in South Carolina:

• Laurens

• Sumter

North Carolina business loop

There is one U.S. Route 76 business loop in North Carolina:

• Whiteville – A 10.5-mile (16.9 km) route through the cities of Chadbourn and Whiteville.

See also

• Cape Fear River
• Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
• Hiwassee River
• Lake Hartwell
• Lake Murray
• Lake Waccamaw
• Lumber River State Park
• Pee Dee River

• Saluda River
• Savannah River
• Shaw Air Force Base
• Sumter National Forest
• Tennessee River
• USS North Carolina (BB-55)
• Waccamaw River

Related U.S. routes

• U.S. Route 176
• U.S. Route 276