It connects the city of Wadesboro with the towns of Oakboro and Chesterfield, South Carolina.

For the next 17 miles (27 km), NC 742 travels through farmlands of northwestern Anson County, with the community of Burnsville located in the middle of it.

NC 742 continues through the northeastern corner of Union County for 2.7 miles (4.3 km), with no major junctions.

Two blocks further, it ends at the intersection of Main and Second Street, with NC 205, which continues north to Red Cross and southwest to New Salem and Marshville.

[3] In 1996, the routings of US 52 and NC 742 were adjusted in Wadesboro; they were removed from Salisbury Street and onto a new road further west that crossed over the railroad tracks.