It runs from the South Carolina state line, near Little River, to Shallotte.

Though NC 179 begins at the state line, SC 179 is a short 0.7-mile-long (1.1 km) road that connects to US 17 in Little River.

With a short concurrency with NC 904, it continues northeast through Ocean Isle Beach ending in Shallotte.

In August 2000, NC 179 was rerouted north around Sunset Beach; a year later NC 179 Business was established along the original route through Sunset Beach.

North Carolina Highway 179 Business (NC 179 Bus) was established in 2001 as an upgrade of secondary roads: Beach Drive, Shoreline Drive, and Sunset Beach Boulevard.