North Carolina Highway 26

North Carolina Highway 226
Route of NC 226 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length:	101.0 mi (162.5 km)
Existed:	1961 – present
Tourist routes:	South Mountain Scenery
Major junctions
South end:	US 29 near Grover
	US 74 in Shelby US 64 near Dysartsville I‑40 near Marion US 221 in Marion US 70 in Marion US 19E in Spruce Pine
North end:	SR 107 at the TN state line
Location
Counties:	Cleveland, Rutherford, McDowell, Mitchell
Highway system
North Carolina Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← NC 225 NC 226A →

North Carolina Highway 226 (NC 226) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Traveling north–south through Western North Carolina, it connects the cities and towns of Grover, Shelby, Marion, Spruce Pine and Bakersville. It also a scenic byway in the South Mountains area and connects with the summer colony of Little Switzerland, via NC 226A.

NC 226 begins at US 29, in Grover, approximately 211 feet (64 m) from the South Carolina state line. Through downtown Grover, it goes northwesterly, through Patterson Springs, to Shelby. In concurrency with US 74, it stays south of the downtown area, then splits with US 74 continuing north to Metcalf, where it becomes the South Mountain Scenery scenic byway. The byway, which stretches 33 miles (53 km) along NC 226 to Marion, is designated for its spectacular views of the South Mountains. Traversing through this rural area of farmlands and forest, NC 226 goes the through Campcall and Polkville before leaving Cleveland County, uneventful through Rutherford County, and crosses over US 64 before reaching the Dysartsville community in McDowell County.