North Carolina Highway 45


North Carolina Highway 45 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The highway traverses north–south, from Ocracoke to Winton.
NC 45 serves as an important regional connector linking coastal communities with inland northeastern North Carolina. The route integrates highway travel with ferry service across the Pamlico Sound, providing a continuous signed route that supports tourism, local commuting, and access to the Outer Banks.

Route description

Much of NC 45 passes through rural and coastal landscapes, including wildlife refuges, farmland, and low-lying coastal plains. Traffic volumes are generally lower than on major east–west corridors, though seasonal increases occur due to tourism and ferry-related travel.
NC 45 starts at the ferry terminal at Ocracoke, connecting with NC 12, it traverses across the Pamlico Sound along the Swan Quarter-Ocracoke Ferry. At Swan Quarter, it continues at a northwesterly direction; merging with several highways along the way, including US 264, NC 99, NC 32, US 64, NC 308, and NC 461. North of Plymouth, it parallels west of the Chowan River before reaching its northern terminus at US 13/US 158, near Winton.
Inland segments of NC 45 provide access to small towns and agricultural areas, intersecting several U.S. and state highways that connect to regional population centers such as Greenville, Elizabeth City, and the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

History

Before its extension, NC 45 terminated at Swan Quarter. State transportation planners pursued the southward extension to improve route continuity, enhance wayfinding for ferry users, and formally integrate ferry travel into the numbered highway network.
On May 1, 2013, NC 45 was extended south from Swan Quarter to its current southern terminus in Ocracoke, crossing over the Pamlico Sound along the Swan Quarter-Ocracoke Ferry. NC 45 does not traverse beyond the ferry terminal.
Following the extension, NC 45 became one of the few North Carolina highways to include a ferry crossing as part of its officially designated route, reflecting the state’s reliance on multimodal solutions to serve coastal and island communities.
The ferry segment is an integral part of the signed highway, with NC 45 officially continuing across the Pamlico Sound despite the absence of a physical roadway. This designation ensures route continuity for navigation and mapping purposes.

Major intersections