North Carolina Borders: States, Map & Complete Guide

Virginia and North Carolina are separated by a border located on North Carolina's northern edge. The state line runs roughly east-west from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to Tennessee in the west.

The North Carolina-Virginia border extends for about 335 miles. The border follows a relatively straight line across northern North Carolina, though it includes some irregular sections: established through colonial surveys. North Carolina counties along this border include Currituck, Camden, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Halifax, Warren, Vance, Granville, Person, Caswell, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Alleghany. The border region transitions from coastal plains in the east to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west.

Tennessee and North Carolina are separated by a border located on North Carolina's western edge. The boundary runs roughly north-south through the Appalachian Mountains from Virginia in the north to Georgia in the south.

The North Carolina-Tennessee border extends for about 265 miles. The border generally follows the 35th parallel north latitude and runs along mountain ridges through the Great Smoky Mountains. North Carolina counties along this border include Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Haywood, Swain, Graham, Cherokee, and Clay. Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles this border.

Georgia and North Carolina are separated by a border in North Carolina's southwestern corner. The boundary runs roughly north-south for a short distance where the three states of North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee meet.

The North Carolina-Georgia border extends for only about 80 miles, making it North Carolina's shortest state border. The border runs through the Appalachian Mountains. Only three North Carolina counties touch this border: Clay, Macon, and Cherokee.

South Carolina and North Carolina are separated by a border located on North Carolina's southern edge. The state line runs roughly east-west from Georgia in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east.

The North Carolina-South Carolina border extends for about 335 miles. The border follows a relatively straight line across southern North Carolina, established through colonial surveys. North Carolina counties along this border include Cherokee, Polk, Rutherford, Cleveland, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Robeson, Columbus, and Brunswick. Charlotte, North Carolina sits near this border.

The Atlantic Ocean forms North Carolina's eastern boundary, creating one of the most distinctive coastlines on the U.S. East Coast. The coastline stretches from Virginia in the north to South Carolina in the south.

North Carolina's Atlantic coastline measures about 301 miles along the general shoreline, but the tidal shoreline (including sounds, inlets, and islands) extends for over 3,375 miles. The coast features the Outer Banks, a 200-mile string of barrier islands that includes Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout, and Cape Fear. North Carolina counties with Atlantic coastline include Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Carteret, Onslow, Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick. Major coastal areas include the Outer Banks, Wilmington, and the Crystal Coast.