Known for its entire length as Morehead Avenue, the state highway runs 4.10 miles (6.60 km) from the North Carolina state line, where the highway continues as North Carolina Highway 14 (NC 14)/NC 87, north to its terminus at U.S. Route 220 (US 220) in Ridgeway in southern Henry County.

SR 87 begins at the North Carolina state line southeast of Ridgeway.

In the center of town, the state highway intersects US 220 Business, which heads north on Main Street and south on Church Street.

SR 87 continues northwest a short distance to its northern terminus at US 220 (Greensboro Road).

When North Carolina extended NC 87 to the Virginia state line in the 1940 renumbering, SR 106 was renumbered SR 87 for continuity.