NC 39 is a predominantly two-lane rural highway that travels 79.3 miles (127.6 km) from US 70, in Selma, to the Virginia state line, north of Townsville.

Within the next 4.4 miles (7.1 km), NC 39 splits from both highways as it continues north, through the communities of Hares Crossroads and Emit, before crossing the Johnston–Wake county line.

[2][3] In Wake County, NC 39 travels 2.76 miles (4.44 km) through its easterly tip; overlapping briefly with US 264 Alternate and connecting with mainline US 264, in Zebulon.

This entire section is mostly forest, crossing NC 97 halfway through and enters Franklin County at Bunn Lake.

Continuing north, to the west of Kerr Lake, it travels through the Williamsboro and Townsville communities before ending at the Virginia state line.

[10] Around 1992, NC 39 was extended south, along US 301 and then east along a hidden .9-mile (1.4 km) concurrency with US 70 to its new southern terminus at US 70A; it was originally to replace what remained of US 70A, which was approved for elimination by AASHTO, but was scuttled by local opposition.