Great Smoky Mountains Expressway

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The Great Smoky Mountains Expressway is a four lane, divided highway in southwestern North Carolina that runs between exit 27 off of Interstate 40 near Canton in Haywood County in the east to the Nantahala National Forest in Swain County in the west.

U.S. Highway 74 follows the expressway for its entire length with U.S. Highways 19, 23 and 441 also following the route at various times.

The expressway is restricted access much like an Interstate at various points along its route including stretches between Interstate 40 and the west side of Waynesville, through Sylva and near Cherokee. There are no intersections or stop-lights for its entire length. There are turn offs and cross streets but the Expressway always has the right of way.

The Great Smoky Mountains Expressway roughly follows the route of the historic Murphy Branch of the Western North Carolina Railroad now owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Much like the railroad was before it, the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway was and still is vital in connecting the mostly rural areas in the southwestern part of the state to the outside world.