SR 103 begins at the North Carolina state line southwest of Claudville.

The highway continues southwest as NC 103 toward Slate Mountain, Flat Rock, and Mount Airy.

SR 103 heads northeast as two-lane undivided Claudville Highway, which crosses the Dan River.

SR 103 heads east out of Claudville as Dry Pond Highway.

The state highway crosses the Little Dan River and passes through the hamlets of Dry Pond and Peters Creek before reaching its eastern terminus at SR 8 (Salem Highway) at Five Forks between Stuart and the North Carolina state line.