U.S. Route 52 in North Carolina

U.S. Highway 52
US 52 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length	150.3 mi[1][2] (241.9 km)
Existed	1934–present
Major junctions
South end	US 52 at the South Carolina line at McFarlan
Major intersections	US 74 in Wadesboro I-85 in Salisbury I-285 / I-85 BL / US 29 / US 70 in Lexington I-285 / I-40 in Winston-Salem US 158 / US 421 / NC 150 in Winston-Salem NC 74 / Future I-74 in Rural Hall I-74 near Mount Airy US 601 in Mount Airy
North end	US 52 at the Virginia line near Mount Airy
Location
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Counties	Anson, Stanly, Cabarrus, Rowan, Davidson, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided North Carolina Highway System Interstate US State Scenic
← NC 51 → NC 53

U.S. Route 52 (US 52) is a north–south United States highway that runs for 150 miles (240 km) from the South Carolina state line, near McFarlan, to the Virginia state line, near Mount Airy. It serves as a strategic highway through the central North Carolina Piedmont.^[3] Because of its alignment in the state, US 52 does not follow the standard convention of an even U.S. route number going east–west.

Between the South Carolina border and Salisbury, the route is an at-grade road, varying in width from two to four lanes. It connects the town centers of a number of small towns in Anson, Stanly, Cabarrus, and Rowan Counties.

Between Salisbury in Rowan County and Mount Airy in Surry County, US 52 is a limited access freeway and is in the process of being upgraded to Interstate Highway standards. Several Interstate highways either already, or are planned to in the near future, overlay the US 52 freeway. From Salisbury to Lexington, it is cosigned with I-85. From Lexington to I-40 south of Winston-Salem it is cosigned with I-285. In the future, as the freeway is upgraded, the I-285 designation will be extended north through Winston-Salem to meet the interchange with the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway. North of that point, I-74 will leave the beltway to join US 52 and the two will remain cosigned until reaching the current short segment of I-74 located south of Mount Airy.

North of the I-74 junction in Surry County, the freeway continues on for a short distance, before becoming a four-lane divided boulevard known as the Andy Griffith Parkway to bypass the town center of Mt. Airy. Immediately before crossing into Virginia, the route reduces back down to two lanes.