Basics
- Length:
- 53 miles (85 km)
- Time:
- 1 hour
- Fees:
- There is no fee to drive the byway.
Description
This byway takes its name from the pine tar industry that once thrived in this portion of the state. The name "Tar Heel" was given to the state's residents by British General Cornwallis' troops after they emerged from the nearby Tar River with tar stuck to their boots. Tar Heel Trace passes through some of the most historic towns in North Carolina (founded as early as 1779) and through a pine-covered country that is both pleasant and peaceful.
Tourism Resources
Helpful Links
Tourism Resources
Points of Interest
Points of Interest Along The Way
Williamston (NC)
Williamston is home to the Morningstar Nature Refuge, where over 250 species of birds rest on their long migratory flights. Fort Branch, a well-preserved Civil War site, overlooks the Roanoke River just north of town.
Directions
At the end of the byway on N.C. 125
Details
Length:
53 miles (85 km)
Time:
1 hour
Main Roads:
N Carolina 42 E
Fees:
There is no fee to drive the byway.
