NC 79 is primarily a two-lane road running through rural Scotland County and residential areas west of Laurinburg.

At Francis Street, NC 79 makes a slight turn to the east, an orientation which it follows through Gibson.

NC 79 crosses Joes Creek, which drains to the Little Pee Dee River, before making a slight turn to the northeast.

Approaching Laurinburg, NC 79 makes a slight southeasterly turn, an orientation the highway follows for the remainder of its route.

The highway continues for 0.5 miles (0.80 km) to the east along Gibson Road until meeting US 74 Business at an at-grade intersection.

The highways continue for 0.7 miles (1.1 km) through a residential area of western Laurinburg until NC 79 reaches its northern terminus at US 15, US 401, and US 501.

[1][5] The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) measures average daily traffic volumes along many of the roadways it maintains.

[7] In 1916 and 1918, North Carolina prepared a planned system of state highways consistent with the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916.

In 1921, the northern terminus of NC 203 was located at the modern-day intersection with Springs Mill Road south of Laurel Hill.

In 1966, the northern terminus of NC 79 was extended 0.6 miles (0.97 km) from US 74 to a newly completed US 15/US 401 freeway in Laurinburg.