SR 86 begins at the North Carolina state line, which also serves as the southern limit of the independent city of Danville.

SR 86 heads north as South Main Street, which expands from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway just north of the border and has a diamond interchange with the Danville Expressway, which carries US 29 and US 58 around the south side of the city.

At its crossing of Norfolk Southern Railway's Danville District, SR 86 expands to a divided highway and its name changes to Central Boulevard.

The state highway has a partial cloverleaf interchange with SR 293 (West Main Street) next to Danville Regional Medical Center before reaching a cloverleaf interchange with US 29 Business and SR 413 just south of the Dan River.

[1][2] Though official documents show SR 86 ending at the Memorial Drive interchange, signage exists along a 1.3-mile-long (2.1 km) segment of Central Boulevard and intersecting roads showing Central Boulevard as a part of SR 86.