Starting from its southern terminus at NC 305/NC 561 near Tri-County Airport in Mintons Store of western Hertford County, the route immediately enters Northampton County as it progresses northward.

In the town of Woodland, NC 35 joins US 258 as Woodland's main street, before turning north again only a couple city blocks later.

The road continues north through the towns of Conway and Severn before it turns into Virginia State Route 35 at the Virginia state line.

Much of the route runs mostly parallel to the North Carolina and Virginia Railroad and crosses it several times.

However, Virginia renumbered its routes in 1940, and North Carolina followed suit to remain consistent.