After passing Old Schoolhouse Road, NC 345 runs by the post office in Wanchese along with several other small businesses including a radio station.

[2][3] NC 345 runs through very marshy terrain north of town, with many small streams and lakes near the road.

The highway becomes the western boundary for the Roanoke Island Marshes Dedicated Nature Preserve leading to why the area is so desolate.

[2][3] NC 345 was an original state highway, which traversed from Wanchese to Manteo and possibly to the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (confirmed by 1924).

[4] Around 1950, US 64/US 264 was routed onto Roanoke Island (ferry from Manns Harbor and bridge to Nags Head) with both sharing concurrency with NC 345 through Manteo.