Merging with US 501, it becomes what is known as "15-501" ("Fifteen Five-o-one"), a concurrency that extends for 106 miles (171 km) across central North Carolina; US 15 also the dominant partner, using its milemarkers along the route.

After Laurinburg, it goes north to Aberdeen, linking briefly with US 1 before continuing to Pinehurst.

After another brief concurrency with US 1 through Sanford, it exits off the freeway and goes due north to Pittsboro.

Though the road is a symbol of the separation of the Carolina–Duke rivalry, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has been trying to remedy that by making the route a superstreet for better traffic flow.

After going through downtown Oxford, it continues north, near Mayo Lake, to Clarksville, Virginia.