It is 18 miles (29 km) in length, starting at the intersection with US 64 and US 276 north of Brevard to US 25 and US 25A in the Asheville community of Arden.

It continues as a four-lane highway with a center turning lane for 6.1 miles (9.8 km) through rural northwestern Henderson County before intersecting NC 191 (Haywood Road) in the town of Mills River.

A growing number of national retailers, restaurants, and hotels can be found within a half-mile of the I-26/US 74 interchange.

[3][4] Landmarks along this section of highway include Asheville Regional Airport and the WNC Agricultural Center, site of the annual North Carolina Mountain State Fair.

For 10.1 miles (16.3 km) of its path through Transylvania and Henderson counties, the highway runs adjacent to the eastern boundary of Pisgah National Forest.