U.S. Route 221 in North Carolina

This article is about the section of highway in North Carolina. For the entire length of highway, see U.S. Route 221.

U.S. Route 221
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length:	153 mi (246 km)
Existed:	ca. 1930 – present
Major junctions
South end:	US 221 at the SC line near Chesnee, SC
	US 74 near Rutherfordton I‑40 near Marion
North end:	US 21 / US 221 at the VA line near Independence, VA
Location
Counties:	Rutherford, McDowell, Burke, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe
Highway system
United States Numbered Highways List Bannered Divided Replaced North Carolina Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← US 220 NC 222 →

U.S. Route 221 in North Carolina runs north–south from the South Carolina state line to the Virginia state line in Western North Carolina.

Route description

US 221 enters from South Carolina as a rural highway, with mostly farms, wooded areas, or homes dotting the road. After 10 miles (16 km) it connects with US 74, where US 74 Business begins its overlap towards Rutherfordton (signs of US 74 Business are scarce throughout). At Rutherfordton, the first major intersection is Charlotte Street, where US 74 Business and US 221 Alternate go east. After Rutherfordton, the road reverts to a rural highway, and continues on to Marion.

Before entering Marion city limits, Interstate 40 intersects with US 221. US 221 then joins with NC 226, going west around the city on the Marion Bypass. After the expressway passes the shopping centers along US 70, it continues as a 4-lane highway with a turning median all the way to North Cove. Along the way, several business can be seen including shrubbery farms, stone/rock cutters, and a chemical plant. NC 226 splits early at Woodlawn, for travelers that want to go to Spruce Pine.

The climb to Linville Falls is somewhat curvy, but manageable. It is a truck route, so a lone runaway truck ramp is located along this section. Also located in this section is Linville Caverns, a small tourist destination. At Linville Falls, people may visit the Linville Gorge Wilderness, where the actual Linville Falls are located; or connect to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Between Linville Falls and Linville, the highway goes through large tracts of fraser fir farms, from the mountain tops to the valleys. At Linville, motorists may follow NC 105 to Boone or continue on up Grandfather Mountain towards Blowing Rock. The easier and faster route to Blowing Rock is actually following NC 105 to Boone (US 221 Truck route gives it away at intersection); if you feel adventurous, then stay on US 221 for a very exciting 18 miles (29 km) drive of endless curves and elevation changes. If you start on US 221 then decide you had enough, then you may cheat by going on the Blue Ridge Parkway, it is scenic and more rewarding. Those that stick-it-out, can take a short break at a rest area located near Blowing Rock.

Blowing Rock and Boone are popular year-round tourist destinations; as such the highway between the two towns offers an array of activities include skiing, shopping, amusement rides, and golf. In Boone, US 221 turns early along NC 105 to King Street, avoiding Appalachian State University and the downtown area; once on King Street (also shared with US 421 and NC 194), it heads east out of town on a 4-lane expressway.

At Deep Gap, US 221 goes north again on a slightly curvy 2-lane road to Jefferson. As the road nears West Jefferson, the road appears to open-up some allowing for more views of the surrounding areas. At West Jefferson and Jefferson, the road serves as a bypass, as well as a last chance for dining choices until Galax, Virginia.

The next 21 miles (34 km) of US 221 is very curvy and similarly as intimidating as the stretch between Linville and Blowing Rock (minus the continuous elevation changes). An alternate route here would be to take NC 16 into Virginia then onto US 58 east (to Independence) or VA/NC 93 east (to Twin Oaks). Depending how you reach Twin Oaks, US 221 meets up with parent US 21 and enter Virginia together.

Scenic byway

US 221, from Linville to Blowing Rock, is designated as the Little Parkway Scenic Byway. It is noted for its history, majestic views, and serving as a long-time detour for the Blue Ridge Parkway till 1987, when the Linn Cove Viaduct was completed.

File:Dr Mary Martin Sloop Highway.jpg

Dr. Mary Martin Sloop Highway sign, located south of Linville.

Alternate names

Though the highway is commonly known as "221" throughout the state, the highway does have other known names it uses locally in areas.

• Dr. Mary Martin Sloop Highway – official North Carolina name of US 221 between Crossnore and Linville. It is named in honor of Dr. Mary Martin Sloop, the founder of the Crossnore School in 1913.
• Robert C. Hunter Expressway – official North Carolina name of the Marion Bypass in McDowell County. It is named in honor of Robert C. Hunter, who was a judge in the North Carolina Court of Appeals (approved on November 3, 1989).
• Robert G. Barr Expressway – official North Carolina name of US 221 between Baldwin and Jefferson, named after a politician from West Jefferson (approved on August 14, 1981).
• Trooper Pete Peterson Bridge – official North Carolina name of bridge that carries US 221 over US 74. It is named in honor of State Trooper Robert L. (Pete) Peterson (approved on January 5, 2001).

History

• 1930 - The original US 221 started from Ingalls to Sparta.
• 1931 - Highway was extended north into Virginia along with US 21/NC 26. Highway was also extended south to South Carolina, replacing or overlapping with the following highways: Overlap with 19-E from Ingalls to Spruce Pine; replace NC 19 from Spruce Pine, through Little Switzerland and Marion, to Rutherfordton; overlap with US 74/NC 20 from Rutherfordton to Forest City; and replacing NC 207 from Forest City to the state line.
• 1933 - US 221 was rerouted, moving east to go through Linville Falls; the old routing through Spruce Pine now serviced by NC 226.
• 1942 - US 221 was rerouted between Rutherfordton to Chesnee; the old routing through Forest City now serviced by US 221A.
• 1952 - US 221 was rerouted going east of Boone, overlap with US 421 to Deep Gap, then north to West Jefferson; NC 194 is extended to replace US 221 through Todd.
• Mid-1980s - US 221/321 between Blowing Rock to Boone was widened to four lanes. US 221 was also moved from going through downtown Boone to going over NC 105 Extension Road (overlap with NC 105); ending a point where US 221/321/421 would meet at King and Hardin Streets.
• 1992 - The Marion Bypass was built, moving US 221/NC 226 outside the city; US 221 Business replaced the old route through Marion.
• 1997 - The highway was widened between Marion to Woodlawn to four lanes.

Junction list

File:US 221 and US 321 Business in Blowing Rock.JPG

US 221/US 321 Bus. in Blowing Rock.

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
State line		0	0	US 221 south – Continuation into South Carolina
Rutherford	​	10	16	US 74 / US 74 Bus. – Forest City, Columbus, Asheville	West end of US 74 Business overlap
	Rutherfordton	15	24	US 221 Alt. / US 74 Bus. (Charlotte Road) / NC 108	East end of US 74 Business overlap
		16	26	US 64 / US 74A (Mountain Street)
McDowell	​	36	58	I‑40 – Statesville, Asheville
	Marion	37	60	US 221 Bus. north (Rutherford Road) / NC 226 south	South end of NC 226 overlap
		42	68	US 70 – Old Fort
		43	69	US 221 Bus. south (North Main Street)
	Woodlawn	49	79	NC 226 north – Little Switzerland, Spruce Pine	North end of NC 226 overlap
Burke	Linville Falls	63	101	NC 183 east
Avery		64	103	Blue Ridge Parkway	Nearby to the Linville Falls Visitor Center and Chestoa View
	​	66	106	NC 194 south (Three Mile Highway) – Ingalls, Spruce Pine	South end of NC 194 overlap
	​	70	113	NC 194 north (Millers Gap Highway) – Newland	North end of NC 194 overlap
	Pineola	72	116	NC 181 south (Beatrice Cobb Highway) – Morganton	South end of NC 181 overlap
	Linville	75	121	NC 181 north (Newland Highway) – Newland	North end of NC 181 overlap
		75.5	121.5	NC 105 north – Banner Elk, Boone
	​	79	127	Blue Ridge Parkway	Nearby the Linn Cove Viaduct and Beacon Heights
Watauga	​	92	148	Blue Ridge Parkway	Nearby the Julian Price Memorial Park
	Blowing Rock	94	151	US 321 Bus. south (Main Street)	South end of US 321 Business overlap
		95	153	US 321 south (James E. Holshouser Jr. Highway) – Lenoir	North end of US 321 Business overlap, south end of US 321 overlap
		95.5	153.7	Blue Ridge Parkway	Nearby the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and the Parkway Craft Center
	Boone	101	163	US 321 north (Blowing Rock Road) / NC 105 south	North end of US 321 overlap, south end of NC 105 overlap
		102	164	US 421 north / NC 194 south (King Street)	North end of US 421 & NC 105 overlap, south end of NC 194 overlap
		103	166	NC 194 north (Jefferson Road) – Todd	North end of NC 194 overlap
	Deep Gap	111	179	US 421 south – Wilkesboro, Winston-Salem	South end of US 421 overlap
Ashe	Baldwin	120	190	NC 194 south – Todd	South end of NC 194 overlap
	West Jefferson	124	200	US 221 Bus. north / NC 194 north / NC 163 east – West Jefferson	North end of NC 194 overlap
	Jefferson	127	204	US 221 Bus. south / NC 88 west – Jefferson	West end of NC 88 overlap
		128	206	NC 16 south / NC 88 east – Wilkesboro	South end of NC 16 overlap, east end of NC 88 overlap
	​	130	210	NC 16 north – Mouth of Wilson	North end of NC 16 overlap
Alleghany	​	141	227	NC 113 – North Wilkesboro, Mouth of Wilson
	​	149	240	NC 93 west – Mouth of Wilson
	Twin Oaks	150	240	US 21 south – Sparta	South end of US 21 overlap
State line				US 21 south / US 221 south – Continuation into Virginia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Bannered routes

Main article: Bannered routes of U.S. Route 221

There is one alternate route, one truck route, and two business loops in North Carolina.

See also

• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Grandfather Mountain
• Linville Falls
• Linville Gorge Wilderness
• Linville River
• North Carolina Bicycle Route 4

References

U.S. Route 221
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