U.S. Route 21

U.S. Route 21 marker
U.S. Route 21
U.S. Route 21 marker U.S. Route 21
	US 21 highlighted in red
Route information
	Maintained by SCDOT, NCDOT, and VDOT
Length	393 mi (632 km)
Existed	November 11, 1926–present
Tourist; routes	File:South Carolina Scenic Byway.svg McTeer Bridge Scenic Byway; File:South Carolina Scenic Byway.svg US 21 Scenic Byway;
Major junctions
South end	Hunting Island State Park, SC
	File:I-95.svg I-95 near Yemassee, SC; File:I-26.svg I-26 (three times in SC); File:I-20.svg I-20 in Columbia, SC; File:I-77.svg I-77 (numerous times in SC/NC); File:I-85.svg I-85 in Charlotte, NC; File:I-40.svg I-40 in Statesville, NC;
North end	File:I-81.svgFile:US 52.svg I-81 / US 52 in Wytheville, VA
Location
Country	United States
States	South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia
Counties	SC: Beaufort, Hampton, Colleton, Bamberg, Orangeburg, Calhoun, Lexington, Richland, Fairfield, Chester, York; NC: Mecklenburg, Iredell, Yadkin, Surry, Wilkes, Alleghany; VA: Grayson, Wythe
Highway system
	United States Numbered Highway System; List; Special; Divided;
	South Carolina State Highway System; Interstate; US; State; Scenic;
	North Carolina Highway System; Interstate; US; State; Scenic;
	Virginia Routes; Interstate; US; Primary; Secondary; Byways; History; HOT lanes;

U.S. Route 21 or U.S. Highway 21 (US 21) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway, spanning 393 miles (632 km) from Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina, to Wytheville, Virginia. The route traverses three states, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. It connects southeastern cities, including Columbia, South Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina. US 21 starts at Hunting Island State Park, bypasses Beaufort, South Carolina, and then heads north across the low country, paralleling Interstate 77 (I-77) through urban and rural areas before entering North Carolina. In North Carolina, US 21 frequently merges with and splits from I-77. The route enters Virginia, passing through hilly terrain before ending at the intersection of Interstate 81 (I-81) / U.S. Route 52 (US 52) in Wytheville. Despite the "1" indicating that it is a major north–south highway, US 21 only travels through three states and is no longer a cross-country route, as many sections have been replaced by I-77 in Ohio and West Virginia. Historically, US 21 was longer before the Interstate Highway System was established. US 21 originally ran from Cleveland, Ohio, to Yemassee, South Carolina, it was later extended to Beaufort and Hunting Island State Park. Over time, its length was reduced, making it the second-shortest major north–south route after U.S. Route 91 (US 91). US 21 serves as an alternative to the more heavily trafficked interstates in the area, particularly I-77, I-26, and Interstate 95 (I-95).

Route description

Lengths
	mi	km
SC	233	375
NC	125	201
VA	35	56
Total	393	632

South Carolina

US 21 travels 233.2 miles (375.3 km) through the state. Beginning at Hunting Island State Park, US 21 travels west toward Beaufort, where it widens to four lanes. The route bypasses Beaufort to the south, going through Port Royal, Shell Point, and Burton. In the Beaufort area, US 21 passes by the entrances to Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, the major Marine Corps installations in the area. North of Beaufort, US 21 continues as a four-lane divided highway and intersects with US 17. The route travels in a wrong-way concurrency with US 17 south for seven miles (11 km) before turning north toward Yemassee, where it becomes a rural two-lane road and intersects with US 17 Alternate. North of Yemassee, US 21 splits off and crosses I-95 at exit 42. The two-lane route continues through rural portions of the state. US 21 goes through Smoaks and Branchville and bypasses Orangeburg. North of Orangeburg, US 21 runs roughly parallel to I-26 until Gaston where it conjoins US 321 and becomes an urban highway. US 21 passes through Cayce, West Columbia, and Columbia. North of Columbia, US 21 splits from US 321, reverting to a rural two-lane road parallel to I-77. In York County, US 21 enters urban areas again, connecting Rock Hill and Fort Mill. Near the North Carolina state line, US 21 merges with I-77 near Carowinds, then enters North Carolina.

North Carolina

File:Eastern Continental Divide - panoramio.jpg

US 21 crossing the Eastern Continental Divide at Roaring Gap, North Carolina

US 21 begins as a concurrency with I-77 in Charlotte, which it repeats three times within the state. Its first break with I-77 is along Statesville Avenue, then proceeding through Huntersville and Cornelius, however, because of its close proximity to I-77 and North Carolina Highway 115 (NC 115), it has no interchange with I-485 by itself. The second break with I-77 occurs at Mooresville, where US 21 travels through the city and then northwest into Statesville. After Statesville, US 21 travels northeast to Harmony and Brooks Crossroads, before merging back with I-77 near Jonesville. However, Jonesville and Elkin connect with US 21 Bus. through centers of both towns, as an alternate route paralleling I-77. North of Elkin, US 21 splits with I-77 for the last time and goes north to Sparta, passing the Blue Ridge Parkway after a major, curvy section. North of Sparta, at Twin Oaks, US 221 overlaps with US 21 before entering Virginia. US 21 travels 124.5 miles (200.4 km) through the western Piedmont of North Carolina, either combined with I-77 or as a two-lane rural road; from the South Carolina state line to Elkin, travelers can easily skip a majority of US 21 via I-77.

Virginia

File:2017-06-25 18 48 56 View south along U.S. Route 21 (Elk Creek Parkway) at Spring Valley Road (Virginia State Secondary Route 805) in northern Grayson County, Virginia.jpg

View south along US 21 at State Route 805 (SR 805) in Grayson County, Virginia

After a few miles crossing the state line, US 21 reaches the town of Independence, where it splits with US 221 and continues north. The route goes through the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area before entering the city of Wytheville. After a short concurrency with US 11 in downtown Wytheville, it goes north and ends at the intersection of I-81/US 52. US 21 travels 35 miles (56 km) through western Virginia, mostly as a two-lane rural mountain road.

History

File:US 21 End - Hunting Island, SC.jpg

Southern terminus of US 21 at Hunting Island, South Carolina

US 21 in the pre-Interstate era was a north–south highway connecting the area around Lake Erie and the coastal South. One of the few true north–south routes to cross the middle Appalachian Mountains, it became an important corridor for motor traffic between northeastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, (with US 19) and western New York with central North Carolina, central and southeastern South Carolina, and (by connecting with other highways) coastal Georgia and most of Florida. Many referred to the stretch of US 21 from the Great Lakes Region to Florida as "The Lakes-to-Florida Highway". US 21 originally (in 1926) connected Cleveland, Ohio, and Yemassee, South Carolina. In 1935 it was extended to Beaufort, South Carolina, and again in 1953 to its current southern terminus at the Atlantic Coast at Hunting Island State Park, between the city of Beaufort and Fripp Island.^[3]^{[unreliable source]} In the Interstate Highway era, much of US 21 became an obvious corridor for a long-distance expressway. The West Virginia Turnpike between Charleston, West Virginia, and Princeton, West Virginia, was the first segment of a planned series of toll highways along or near US 21 from Cleveland to Charlotte, North Carolina. All the other toll highways were shelved in favor of freeways built with Interstate funding; these freeways and the West Virginia Turnpike became I-77, which completely supplanted old US 21 as a long-distance through route. I-77 was later extended to Columbia, South Carolina, also within a few miles of US 21. Between Cleveland and Charleston, all but a relatively short segment of US 21 was completely deleted in favor of I-77, the relics being as follows:

State Route 21 (SR 21) between Cuyahoga Heights and Strasburg;^{[citation needed]}
SR 821 between I-77 near Byesville and SR 60 near Marietta, Ohio;^{[citation needed]}
County Road 35 (CR 35, Oakwood Road, Byesville Road, Old Twenty-One Road) between Byesville and the Guernsey–Tuscarawas county line;^{[citation needed]}
CR 3 (Salt Fork Road) between the Guernsey–Tuscarawas county line to SR 258^{[citation needed]}
CR 21 between Newcomerstown and New Philadelphia^{[citation needed]}
County Route 21 (CR 21) between Mineral Wells and Charleston.^{[citation needed]}

Between Charleston and its current northern terminus at Wytheville, Virginia, almost all of US 21 ran concurrently with either US 60, US 19, or US 52, which remained as US 21 was deleted. The short segment of US 21 in southern West Virginia not coinciding with another U.S. Highway became an extension of West Virginia Route 16. In North Carolina, US 21 originally entered the state along today's NC 51 into Pineville, then followed Old Pineville Road into Charlotte. In the mid-1930s, US 21 moved over to South Boulevard from Old Pineville Road. In 1969, US 21 was rerouted following today's I-77 alignment, the old route was replaced by an extension of US 521. From 1975–1987, US 21 moved north in segments onto I-77 to its current alignment ending at exit 16A (Sunset Road). Further north, US 21 originally followed Old Statesville Road, replaced in 1956 by NC 115. In 1966, US 21 was bypassed around Jonesville and Elkin, replaced with US 21 Bus.^[4]^{[unreliable source]} US 21 in Beaufort, South Carolina, was rerouted around the city over former SC 280 as well as a portion of SC 802. The new routing went into effect on February 26, 2012.^[5]

Browse numbered routes
← US 20A	OH	→ SR 21

Major intersections

State	County	Location	mi^[6]^[7]^[8]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
South Carolina	Beaufort	Hunting Island State Park	0.00	0.00		Sea Island Parkway / Campground Road	Southern terminus; road continues as Sea Island Parkway
		Lady's Island	14.50	23.34		File:North plate.svg File:Business plate.svg File:US 21.svgFile:East plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 802.svg US 21 Bus. north (Sea Island Parkway west) / SC 802 east (Sams Point Road)	Southern terminus of US 21 Bus.; western terminus of SC 802
		Port Royal	17.35	27.92		File:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 281.svg SC 281 north (Ribaut Road north)	Southern terminus of SC 281
			19.87	31.98		Parris Island M.C.R.D.	Interchange
			21.10	33.96		File:West plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 128.svg SC 128 west (Savannah Highway) – Bluffton, Hardeeville, Hilton Head Island	Eastern terminus of SC 128
		Beaufort	24.24	39.01		File:South Carolina 170.svg SC 170 (Robert Smalls Parkway) – Beaufort
		Burton	25.44	40.94		File:South plate.svg File:Business plate.svg File:US 21.svg US 21 Bus. south – Beaufort	Northern terminus of US 21 Bus.
		Burton	26.86	43.23		File:West plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 116.svg SC 116 west – Laurel Bay	Eastern terminus of SC 116
		Gardens Corner	37.40	60.19		File:North plate.svg File:US 17.svg US 17 north – Charleston	Interchange; eastern end of US 17 concurrency
		Pocotaligo	44.00	70.81		File:Begin plate.svg File:Alt plate.svg File:US 17.svgFile:South plate.svg File:US 17.svgFile:To plate blue.svg File:I-95.svg US 17 Alt. begins / US 17 south to I-95 – Ridgeland, Savannah	Western end of US 17 concurrency; southern end of US 17 Alt. concurrency; southern terminus of US 17 Alt.
	Hampton	Yemassee	47.77	76.88		File:West plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 68.svgFile:To plate blue.svg File:I-95.svg SC 68 west (Connely Street) / Flowers Street south (US 17 Conn. south) to I-95 – Hampton, Allendale	Eastern terminus of SC 68; northern terminus of US 17 Conn.
	Colleton		49.39	79.49		File:North plate.svg File:Alt plate.svg File:US 17.svg US 17 Alt. north (Hendersonville Highway) – Walterboro	Northern end of US 17 Alt. concurrency
			52.04	83.75		File:I-95.svg I-95 – Florence, Savannah	I-95 exit 42
			62.00	99.78		File:South Carolina 63.svg SC 63 (Sniders Highway) – Varnville, Walterboro
		Bells Crossroads	68.41	110.10		File:South Carolina 64.svg SC 64 (Bells Highway) – Ehrhardt, Walterboro
		Smoaks	77.10	124.08		File:South Carolina 217.svg SC 217 (Lodge Highway) – Lodge
	Bamberg	Whetstone Crossroads	83.20	133.90		File:South Carolina 61.svg SC 61 (Edisto River Road) – Bamberg
	Orangeburg	Branchville	88.65	142.67		File:West plate.svg File:US 78.svg US 78 west (Edward Street) – Bamberg	Southern end of US 78 concurrency
			88.85	142.99		File:East plate.svg File:US 78.svg US 78 east (Dorange Road) – Charleston	Northern end of US 78 concurrency
			89.26	143.65		File:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 210.svg SC 210 north – Bowman	Southern terminus of SC 210
		Orangeburg	104.16	167.63		File:North plate.svg File:Business plate.svg File:US 21.svg US 21 Bus. north (Rowesville Road) / Stonewall Jackson Boulevard (US 601 Truck north / SC 4 west)	Southern end of US 601 Truck concurrency; southern terminus of US 21 Bus.; eastern terminus of SC 4
			104.23	167.74		File:East plate.svg File:US 178.svgFile:West plate.svg File:Business plate.svg File:US 178.svg US 178 east (Charleston Highway east) / US 178 Bus. west (Charleston Highway west) – Charleston	Southern end of US 178 concurrency; eastern terminus of US 178 Bus.
			105.55	169.87		File:US 301.svg US 301 (Five Chop Road) – Santee, Bamberg
			105.65	170.03		File:South Carolina 33.svg SC 33 (Russel Street) – Cameron
			107.50	173.00		File:US 601.svgFile:End plate.svg File:Truck plate.svg File:US 601.svg US 601 (Magnolia Street) / US 601 Truck ends – St. Matthews, Bamberg	Northern end of US 601 Truck concurrency; northern terminus of US 601 Truck
			108.59	174.76		File:West plate.svg File:US 178.svg US 178 west (Chestnut Street) / Columbia Road south (US 21 Conn. south) – North	Northern end of US 178 concurrency; northern terminus of US 21 Conn.; US 21 turns right off of Chestnut Street and onto Columbia Road.
	Calhoun		120.48	193.89		File:South Carolina 172.svg SC 172 – North
			120.58	194.05		File:East plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 6.svgFile:To plate blue.svg File:I-26.svg SC 6 east to I-26	Southern end of SC 6 concurrency
			122.15	196.58		File:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 6.svg SC 6 north (Center Hill Road) – Swansea	Northern end of SC 6 concurrency
	Lexington		127.48	205.16		File:I-26.svg I-26 – Columbia, Charleston	I-26 exit 129
	Calhoun	Sandy Run	130.23	209.58		File:East plate.svg File:US 176.svg US 176 east (Old State Road) – St. Matthews	Southern end of US 176 concurrency
	Lexington		137.13	220.69		File:I-26.svg I-26 – Columbia, Charleston	I-26 exit 119
			138.98	223.67		File:South plate.svg File:US 321.svg US 321 south – Gaston, Swansea	Southern end of US 321 concurrency
		Cayce	141.48	227.69		File:North plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg I-77 north – Charlotte	I-77 exit 1
			141.87	228.32		File:I-26.svg I-26 – Charleston, Spartanburg	I-26 exit 115
			142.97	230.09		File:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 2.svg SC 2 north (Frink Road)	Southern terminus of SC 2
		West Columbia	144.45	232.47		File:South plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 302.svg SC 302 south (Airport Boulevard) – Aiken, Columbia Airport	Northern terminus of SC 302
		Cayce	146.23	235.33		File:South Carolina 2.svg SC 2 (State Street)
	Richland	Columbia	147.22	236.93		File:East plate South Carolina.svg File:Truck plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 48.svgFile:To plate.svg File:East plate.svg File:US 76.svgFile:To plate.svg File:East plate.svg File:US 378.svg SC 48 Truck east (Blossom Street / US 21 Conn. east / US 76 Conn. east) to US 76 east / US 378 east	Western terminus of US 21 Conn., US 76 Conn., and SC 48 Truck; US 21, US 176, and US 321 turn left off of Blossom Street and onto Huger Street.
			147.86	237.96		File:US 1.svgFile:US 378.svg US 1 / US 378 (Gervais Street) – South Carolina State Museum, Confederate Relic Room, EdVenture, Columbia SC Visitors Center, Convention Center, Colonial Life Arena
			148.16	238.44		File:East plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 12.svg SC 12 east (Hampton Street) – Fort Jackson	One-way couplet
			148.26	238.60		File:West plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 12.svg SC 12 west (Taylor Street) – Lexington	One-way couplet
			148.76	239.41		File:West plate blue.svg File:I-126.svgFile:West plate.svg File:US 76.svgFile:To plate blue.svg File:I-20.svg I-126 west / US 76 west to I-20 – Greenville, Spartanburg	Southern end of I-126/US 76 concurrency; Rep. T. Moffatt Burriss Sr. Interchange
			149.08	239.92		File:End plate blue.svg File:I-126.svg I-126 ends	Northern end of I-126 concurrency
			149.38	240.40		File:East plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 48.svg SC 48 east (Assembly Street) – Columbia Museum of Art	Western terminus of SC 48
			149.46	240.53		File:East plate.svg File:US 76.svg US 76 east (Elmwood Avenue)	Northern end of US 76 concurrency
			149.97	241.35		File:West plate.svg File:US 176.svg US 176 west (River Drive)	Northern end of US 176 concurrency
			150.66	242.46		File:South Carolina 16.svg SC 16 (Sunset Drive)
			151.23	243.38		File:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 215.svg SC 215 north (Monticello Road)	Southern terminus of SC 215
			152.22	244.97		File:North plate.svg File:US 321.svg US 321 north (Fairfield Street) – Winnsboro	Northern end of US 321 concurrency
			154.76	249.06		File:I-20.svg I-20 – Florence, Augusta	I-20 exit 71
		Blythewood	162.17	260.99		File:I-77.svg I-77 – Columbia, Charlotte	I-77 exit 24
		Blythewood	163.46	263.06		File:South Carolina 555.svg SC 555 (Farrow Road) – Columbia
	Fairfield		171.40	275.84		Coleman Highway west (US 21 Conn. north) – Winnsboro	Southern terminus of US 21 Conn.; eastern terminus of Coleman Highway
		Ridgeway	172.09	276.95		File:East plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 34.svg SC 34 east (Palmer Street) – Lugoff, Camden	Southern end of SC 34 concurrency
		Ridgeway	172.31	277.31		File:West plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 34.svg SC 34 west (Church Street) – Winnsboro Mills	Northern end of SC 34 concurrency
			189.11	304.34		File:South Carolina 200.svg SC 200 – Winnsboro	Southern end of SC 200 concurrency
	Chester	Great Falls	192.07	309.11		File:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 99.svg SC 99 north (Chester Avenue) – Richburg	Southern terminus of SC 99
			193.29	311.07		File:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 97.svg SC 97 north – Chester	Southern end of SC 97 concurrency
			193.43	311.30		File:South plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 97.svgFile:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 200.svg SC 97 south / SC 200 north – Lancaster	Northern end of SC 97 and SC 200 concurrencies
		Fort Lawn	200.93	323.37		File:South Carolina 9.svg SC 9 (Chester Avenue) – Richburg, Lancaster
			206.23	331.90		File:South Carolina 223.svg SC 223 (Wylies Mill Road) – Richburg
	York		213.55	343.68		File:South plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 5.svg SC 5 south – Lancaster	Interchange; southern end of SC 5 concurrency; to Andrew Jackson State Park
		Lesslie	215.67	347.09		Lesslie	Interchange via connector road
Rock Hill		217.26	349.65	Lesslie, Red River	Interchange
		218.02	350.87	File:I-77.svg I-77 – Columbia, Charlotte	I-77 exit 77
		218.72	352.00	File:South Carolina 5.svgFile:South Carolina 121.svgFile:Hospital sign.svg SC 5 / SC 121 (Main Street)	Access to Piedmont Medical Center; northern end of SC 5 concurrency; southern end of SC 121 concurrency
		220.20	354.38	File:South Carolina 122.svgFile:To plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg SC 122 (Dave Lyle Boulevard) to I-77	Interchange
		222.36	357.85	File:West plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 322.svg SC 322 west (Cherry Road west) / SC 121 ends	Northern end of SC 121 concurrency; northern terminus of SC 121; eastern terminus of SC 322
		222.80	358.56	File:I-77.svg I-77 – Columbia, Charlotte	I-77 exit 82
		223.00	358.88	File:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 161.svgFile:To plate blue.svg File:North plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg SC 161 north (Celanese Road) to I-77 north – Charlotte, York	Southern terminus of SC 161
Fort Mill		224.37	361.09	File:North plate.svg File:Business plate.svg File:US 21.svg US 21 Bus. north (Spratt Street) – Fort Mill	Southern terminus of US 21 Bus.
		226.42	364.39	File:South Carolina 160.svg SC 160 – Tega Cay
		229.20	368.86	File:South Carolina 460.svg SC 460 (Springfield Parkway) – Tega Cay, Fort Mill
		230.35	370.71	File:South plate.svg File:Business plate.svg File:US 21.svg US 21 Bus. south (Old Nation Road)	Northern terminus of US 21 Bus.
		231.14	371.98	File:North plate South Carolina.svg File:South Carolina 51.svg SC 51 north (Pineville–Rock Hill Road) – Pineville	Southern terminus of SC 51 (northern segment)
		231.89	373.19	File:South plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg I-77 south – Columbia	Southern end of I-77 concurrency; I-77 exit 90
			232.52 0.00	374.20 0.00	South Carolina–North Carolina line
North Carolina	Mecklenburg	Charlotte	0.9	1.4	1A	Westinghouse Boulevard	Exit numbers follow I-77
			1.8	2.9	1B	File:I-485.svg I-485 – Huntersville, Pineville	Formerly exit 2 (southbound) before August 2010; I-485 exit 67
			2.8	4.5	3	Arrowood Road	Formerly exit 2 (northbound) before August 2010
			3.7	6.0	4	Nations Ford Road
			4.8	7.7	5	Tyvola Road	Single-point urban interchange
			6.0	9.7	6A	Woodlawn Road south (Charlotte Route 4 east) – Queens University	To Pfeiffer University
			6.2	10.0	6B	File:To plate.svg File:NC 49.svgFile:Airport Sign.svg To NC 49 (S. Tryon Street) / Billy Graham Parkway (Charlotte Route 4 west)	To Billy Graham Library and Charlotte Douglas International Airport; southbound signed as NC 49 south (S. Tryon St. south) only
			7.3	11.7	7	File:To plate.svg File:NC 49.svg To NC 49 / Clanton Road
			8.3	13.4	8	File:To plate.svg File:NC 160.svg To NC 160 / Remount Road	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
			9.0	14.5	9A	File:NC 160.svg NC 160 (West Boulevard)	Southbound exit and northbound entrance; access from collector-distributor lanes
			9.4	15.1	9B	File:North plate blue.svg File:I-277.svgFile:East plate.svg File:US 74.svg I-277 north / US 74 east (John Belk Freeway)	Access from collector-distributor lanes; I-277 exits 1B-C
			9.5	15.3	9C	File:West plate.svg File:US 74.svgFile:To plate.svg File:US 29.svgFile:To plate.svg File:NC 27.svg US 74 west (Wilkinson Boulevard) to US 29 / NC 27	US 29 and NC 27 signed northbound only; access from collector-distributor lanes; US 74 exits 1B-C
			9.9	15.9	10A	File:US 29.svgFile:NC 27.svg US 29 / NC 27 (Morehead Street)	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
			10.4	16.7	10	Trade Street / Fifth Street	Signed southbound as exits 10B (Trade Street east) and 10C (Fifth Street/Trade Street west)
			11.0	17.7	11A	File:South plate blue.svg File:I-277.svgFile:South plate.svg File:NC 16.svg I-277 south / NC 16 south (Brookshire Freeway east) – Downtown Charlotte	I-277 exits 5A-B
			11.2	18.0	11B	File:North plate.svg File:NC 16.svg NC 16 north (Brookshire Freeway west)	Left exit northbound; NC 16 exits 5A-B
					—	File:North plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg I-77 north (Express lanes)	Southern terminus of HOV3+/toll lanes
					—	File:South plate blue.svg File:I-277.svg I-277 south	Express lanes only, southbound exit and northbound entrance
			12.4	20.0	12	Lasalle Street / Atando Avenue
			13.3	21.4	13	File:I-85.svg I-85 – Greensboro, Spartanburg	Signed as exits 13A (north) and 13B (south); hybrid interchange; I-85 exit 38
					—	File:North plate blue.svg File:I-85.svg I-85 north	Express lanes only; northbound exit and southbound entrance
			15.8	25.4		File:North plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg I-77 north – Statesville	Northern end of I-77 concurrency; I-77 exit 16
			16.3	26.2		File:North plate.svg File:NC 115.svg NC 115 north (Old Statesville Road)	Southern terminus of NC 115
			18.9	30.4		File:NC 24.svg NC 24 (W.T. Harris Boulevard)	To Northlake Mall
		Huntersville				File:To plate blue.svg File:I-485.svg Alexandriana Road to I-485
		Huntersville	25.7	41.4		File:NC 73.svg NC 73 (Sam Furr Road) – Concord
		Cornelius	28.8	46.3		File:South plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg I-77 south – Charlotte	Southern end of I-77 concurrency; I-77 exit 28
		Davidson	30.2	48.6	30	Griffith Street – Davidson	Exit numbers follow I-77
	Lake Norman				Lake Norman Causeway
	Iredell	Mooresville	32.1	51.7	31	Langtree Road
			33.7	54.2		File:North plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg I-77 north – Statesville	Northern end of I-77 concurrency; I-77 exit 33
			36.4	58.6		File:NC 150.svg NC 150 (Plaza Drive)	Interchange
			39.1	62.9		File:South plate.svg File:NC 115.svg NC 115 south (Statesville Highway)	Southern end of NC 115 concurrency
			43.3	69.7		File:I-77.svg I-77 – Charlotte, Statesville	I-77 exit 42
		Statesville	51.2	82.4		File:US 70.svg US 70 (Garner Bagnal Boulevard) – Conover, Salisbury
			51.9	83.5		File:West plate.svg File:US 64.svgFile:North plate.svg File:NC 115.svg US 64 west (Front Street) / NC 115 north (Center Street)	Northern end of NC 115 concurrency; southern end of US 64 concurrency
			52.3	84.2		File:West plate.svg File:NC 90.svg NC 90 west (Water Street)	Eastern terminus of NC 90
			53.2	85.6		File:East plate.svg File:US 64.svg US 64 east (Davie Avenue) – Mocksville	Northern end of US 64 concurrency
			54.1	87.1		File:I-40.svg I-40 – Hickory, Winston-Salem	I-40 exit 151
			57.2	92.1		File:I-77.svg I-77 – Statesville, Elkin	I-77 exit 54
		Harmony	66.9	107.7		File:NC 901.svg NC 901 (Memorial Highway) – Union Grove
	Yadkin	Brooks Crossroads	79.2	127.5		File:US 421.svg US 421 – Wilkesboro, Yadkinville, Winston-Salem
			85.4	137.4		File:South plate blue.svg File:I-77.svgFile:North plate.svg File:Business plate.svg File:US 21.svg I-77 south / US 21 Bus. north – Statesville, Jonesville	Southern end of I-77 concurrency; I-77 exit 79; southern terminus of US 21 Bus.
		Jonesville	88.5	142.4	82	File:NC 67.svg NC 67 – Jonesville, Boonville, Elkin	Exit number follows I-77
	Yadkin River				Sgt. Gregory Keith Martin Memorial Bridges
	Surry	Elkin	90.3	145.3		File:North plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg I-77 north – Wytheville	Northern end of I-77 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance; I-77 exit 83
			91.3	146.9		File:By-pass plate.svg File:NC 268.svgFile:To plate blue.svg File:North plate blue.svg File:I-77.svgFile:Airport Sign.svg NC 268 Byp. to I-77 north – Elkin	Interchange; to Elkin Municipal Airport; I-77 exit 85
			92.8	149.3		File:South plate.svg File:Business plate.svg File:US 21.svg US 21 Bus. south – Elkin	Northern terminus of US 21 Bus.
	Wilkes	No major junctions
	Alleghany		111.2	179.0		File:Blue Ridge Parkway shield.png Blue Ridge Parkway	Interchange via connector roads
		Sparta	118.2	190.2		File:NC 18.svg NC 18 (Whitehead Street) – Laurel Springs
		Twin Oaks	121.1	194.9		File:South plate.svg File:US 221.svg US 221 south – Jefferson	Southern end of US 221 concurrency
			124.3 0.00	200.0 0.00		North Carolina–Virginia line
Virginia	Grayson	Independence	3.86	6.21		File:North plate.svg File:US 221.svgFile:US 58.svg US 221 north / US 58 (Main Street) – Mouth of Wilson, Galax	Northern end of US 221 concurrency
		Elk Creek	14.77	23.77		File:Circle sign 658.svg SR 658 (Comers Rock Road) – Comers Rock
			15.67	25.22		File:Circle sign 805.svgFile:To plate.svg File:Virginia 94.svg SR 805 (Spring Valley Road) to SR 94 – Fries
	Wythe	Speedwell	21.26	34.21		File:Circle sign 619.svgFile:Circle sign 749.svg SR 619 (Saint Peters Road) / SR 749 (Cedar Springs Road) – Cedar Springs, Rural Retreat
			26.03	41.89		File:Circle sign 690.svg SR 690 (Crockett Road, Cripple Creek Road) – Crockett, Cripple Creek
			31.13	50.10		File:Circle sign 696.svg SR 696 (Barrett Mill Road) – Big Survey Wildlife Management Area
		Wytheville	33.63	54.12		File:South plate.svg File:US 11.svg US 11 south (Lee Highway)	Southern end of US 11 concurrency
			33.94	54.62		File:North plate.svg File:US 11.svg US 11 north (Main Street)	Northern end of US 11 concurrency
			34.99	56.31		File:I-81.svgFile:US 52.svgFile:To plate blue.svg File:I-77.svg I-81 / US 52 to I-77 – Bristol, Roanoke	Northern terminus; I-81 exit 70; road continues west as US 52 (4th Street north)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus HOV only Incomplete access

Special routes and auxiliary routes

There are currently four business loops, four connectors, and one truck route along its route.

Auxiliary routes of US 21:

References

↑ Total length is calculated from route mileages provided by each state DOT.
↑ Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Retrieved May 24, 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
↑ Sanderson, Dale (July 4, 2009). "End of US Highway 21". US Ends. Self-published. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
↑ Mapmikey; Prince, Adam (August 28, 2009). "US 21". NCRoads.com Annex: More Highways of North Carolina. Self-published. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
↑ "Federal highway rerouted through Beaufort area". Post and Courier. Associated Press. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
↑ "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. May 4, 2021. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
↑ "Overview map of US 21 in NC" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
↑
"2019 Traffic Data". Virginia Department of Transportation. 2019. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- "Grayson County" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- "Wythe County" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

External links

KML file (edit • help)

Template:Attached KML/U.S. Route 21

KML is not from Wikidata

File:Commons-logo.svg Media related to U.S. Route 21 at Wikimedia Commons
Endpoints of U.S. Highway 21

[1] Total length is calculated from route mileages provided by each state DOT.

[1926_Map-2] Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Retrieved May 24, 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.

[termini-3] Sanderson, Dale (July 4, 2009). "End of US Highway 21". US Ends. Self-published. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2011.

[4] Mapmikey; Prince, Adam (August 28, 2009). "US 21". NCRoads.com Annex: More Highways of North Carolina. Self-published. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2011.

[5] "Federal highway rerouted through Beaufort area". Post and Courier. Associated Press. Retrieved March 17, 2023.

[SCDOT-6] "Highway Logmile Report". South Carolina Department of Transportation. May 4, 2021. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.

[google-nc-7] "Overview map of US 21 in NC" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved February 1, 2011.

[VDOT_Traffic_Data-8] "2019 Traffic Data". Virginia Department of Transportation. 2019. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
"Grayson County" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

"Wythe County" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

[9] "Grayson County" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

[10] "Wythe County" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

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v t e Click for the article on the U.S. Route shield United States Numbered Highway System
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Mainline highways Divided routes Special routes
Routes in italics are no longer a part of the system. Highlighted routes are considered main routes of the system.

U.S. Route 21

Contents

Route description

South Carolina

North Carolina

Virginia

History

Major intersections

Special routes and auxiliary routes

See also

References

External links

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