US 17 (NC)

U.S. Route 17
Route of US 17 in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length:	286.0 mi (460.3 km)
Existed:	1927 – present
Major junctions
South end:	US 17 at the SC line
	NC 140 near Winnabow US 74 / US 76 / US 421 / NC 133 in Leland US 117 / NC 132 in Wilmington NC 140 in Kirkland US 70 near New Bern US 264 in Washington US 13 / US 64 in Williamston US 158 in Elizabeth City
North end:	US 17 at the VA line
Location
Counties:	Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Jones, Craven, Beaufort, Martin, Bertie, Chowan, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Camden
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided Replaced North Carolina Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← NC 16 NC 18 →

In the U.S. state of North Carolina U.S. Route 17 (US 17) is a north–south highway that is known as the Coastal Highway in the southeastern half of the state and the Ocean Highway in other areas. The route enters the state from South Carolina near Calabash, and leaves in the vicinity of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. Between the US 64 freeway and the Virginia state line, US 17 is a four-lane divided highway with speed limits varying between 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) and 70 miles per hour (110 km/h).

US 17 enters Brunswick County, North Carolina in Carolina Shores amid a variety of golf course communities. Carolina Shores was part of Calabash until 1998.

In Wilmington, US 17 (here concurrent with Interstate 140) crosses the Northeast Cape Fear River between New Hanover County and Brunswick County over the Dan Cameron Bridge. North of Holly Ridge US 17 begins to move further away from the Atlantic Coast. Then, it bypasses Jacksonville along with NC 24. Between New Bern and James City, US 17 (concurrent with US 70 and NC 55) crosses the Trent River by way of the Freedom Memorial Bridge. Farther east, between James City and Bridgeton, US 17, still concurrent with NC 55, crosses the Neuse River over the Neuse River Bridge. Traffic going north on US-17 when using US-70's concurrency can bypass New Bern altogether via NC 43, ironically both the west end of US-17's concurrency on US-70 and NC 43's southern terminus both, respectively have a north and south protrusion of unused highway since full cloverleaf junctions were scrapped in the area.