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Interstate 95 south - Virginia line to Wilson
Interstate 95, after 178 miles through Virginia, crosses the state line into Northampton County, North Carolina, with a welcome sign at right. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
North Carolina's southbound welcome center is here. A companion northbound Virginia welcome center is just behind. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Welcome center parking is alongside the southbound lanes. The next southbound rest area is in Nash County, about 39 miles away at mile marker 142. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
All of I-95 in North Carolina is a Blue Star Memorial Highway, one of many in the U.S. honoring military veterans. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The state's first exit, 180, intersecting North Carolina Highway 48 and serving nearby Gaston, is less than a mile to the south. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
As welcome center traffic rejoins the highway, a sign informs drivers they are entering the Northeastern North Carolina Economic Development Region. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 180 lies just ahead. With its north end nearby at U.S. Route 301, NC 48 crosses the Roanoke River near the Roanoke Rapids Lake a few miles to the south, and eventually reconnects with I-95 in Nash County. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 180 is a tree-lined interchange typical of North Carolina freeways. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
A set of large painted arrows points the way for incoming traffic to merge onto the highway. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
There was a sign just past exit 180 at the time of these photos acknowledging the 2022 North Carolina women's lacrosse championship team. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount and Wilson are 9, 44 and 64 miles from this sign. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
In between exits, the trees surrounding the freeway clear out somewhat. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 176, one mile ahead, intersects North Carolina Highway 46 and serves Gaston and Garysburg. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 176 is just ahead. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 173, two miles from this sign, is an interchange with U.S. Route 158, the main thoroughfare between Roanoke Rapids and Weldon. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
I-95 proceeds to cross the historic Roanoke River. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
I-95 has now entered Halifax County. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 173, known for its plethora of traveler services in the vein of Breezewood, Pennsylvania, is imminent. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The highway crosses over Becker Drive and a railroad track prior to the exit. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The exit 173 gore, at right. This is the only considerably-developed area on I-95 in North Carolina prior to entering Johnston County, 65 miles to the south. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The southbound onramp from US 158 then enters at right. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The Interstate's surroundings, including the median, then suddenly become heavily-forested. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Rocky Mount, Wilson and Fayetteville are officially 39, 59 and 126 miles from here. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Accessible ahead from exit 171 is the state's Historic Halifax site, as well as vineyards. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 171 intersects North Carolina Highway 125, and is Roanoke Rapids' other exit. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The sign for exit 171 is located at the namesake mile marker. At left is the Carolina Crossroads entertainment complex, anchored by the Weldon Mills Theatre. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
While exit 171 is more rural in nature than exit 173, recent development in Roanoke Rapids-Weldon has shifted there. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
There is I-95 reassurance afterward. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 168, North Carolina Highway 903 toward county seat Halifax, is two miles from the green sign at right. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
There is another, unspecified historic site off the exit. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 168 is ahead, flanked by a pair of travel plazas. NC 903 traverses 200 miles through eastern North Carolina between Sampson and Warren counties, via Greenville, and continues into Virginia from its north end. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Construction was ongoing along several sections of I-95 in North Carolina in 2023, and these orange signs at exit 168 warned of an impending work and variable speed zone. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Following the exit, I-95 enters the Tar-Pamlico River Basin. Its two component rivers ultimately lead into the Pamlico Sound some miles across from Route 12's Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
I-95 is now in its longest gap between exits in North Carolina - approximately eight miles. Here, it passes state mile marker 167. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Rocky Mount, Wilson and Fayetteville are now 34, 54 and 121 miles ahead. Meanwhile, Aurelian Springs Road (SR 1600) crosses over the Interstate. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The highway passes mile marker 166 along a row of pine trees on its right. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Eventually, exit 160, which intersects North Carolina Highway 561, is billed as being two miles away. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 160 westbound leads to Louisburg in Franklin County. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 160 sits just ahead. NC 561 links Louisburg with Ahoskie in Hertford County, 100 miles eastward. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The exit 160 gore sign up close. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
A set of arrows marks the entry of the onramp from NC 561 to southbound I-95. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Another I-95 reassurance shield follows. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Just further south, a variable message sign sits behind the Hardee Road (SR 1211) overpass. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The Interstate's two carriageways then split apart to make way for a row of pine trees. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 154, North Carolina Highway 481 leading toward Enfield, is in one mile. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 154 bears off just ahead. NC 481 is a straightforward 21-mile highway running east-west along southern Halifax County. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The southbound offramp to NC 481 is partially concrete-surfaced. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Rocky Mount, Wilson and Fayetteville are now 20, 40 and 107 miles away. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Amid trees, I-95 crosses the Rocky Swamp. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
A weight station for large trucks is one mile away. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The weigh station entrance is at right. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
At mile marker 151, I-95 prepares to cross Fishing Creek, the longest tributary of the Tar River. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The Fishing Creek bridge marks the Interstate's entry into Nash County. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 150, serving North Carolina Highway 33 and the town of Whitakers, is a mile ahead. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
A more stylized Nash County welcome sign comes before the exit. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The land surrounding exit 150 is much more open. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
A close-up of exit 150, including a recently-replaced NC 33 overpass. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The reassurance marker following the exit is missing its I-95 shield. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The highway next crosses the Beaverdam Swamp Creek. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
Exit 145 - indirectly intersecting North Carolina highways 4 and 48, and leading to US 301, Gold Rock and Rocky Mount - is two miles from this sign. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
The city of Rocky Mount is served by the next three exits. Photo taken 10-02-2023.
NC 4 and NC 48 cross over I-95 without access a distance prior to exit 145. Photo taken 10-02-2023.