In 1940, the highway was extended southeast of Edenton as new primary routing, then replaced NC 172 across the Albemarle Sound to US 64.

Approximately 10 years later, NC 32 (with US 64) received a new bypass of Plymouth, replacing SR 1325.

In the early 1980s, the highway was later extended underneath US 264 and west through Washington Park to its present-day ending.

[2] NC 32 traverses the Coastal Plains of North Carolina, with many swamps and pine barrens along the route.

The highway spans four counties in the state; Beaufort, Chowan, Gates, and Washington.