The state highway also provides a crucial link for traffic between the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and the Outer Banks.

US 158 continues south along Caratoke Highway toward Nags Head and west on Shortcut Road toward Currituck County Airport and Elizabeth City.

NC 168 heads north as a five-lane road (two travel lanes in each direction with a center turn lane) to Currituck, where the highway serves some county offices and has a pair of intersections with SR 1242 (Courthouse Road) on the south and NC 615 on the north.

NC 615 provides access to a ferry just east of its terminus to cross Currituck Sound to Knotts Island.

The highway passes east of the Currituck Welcome Center before reaching its northern terminus at the Virginia state line.