---
template: byway.jade
id: "12845"
name: Tar Heel Trace
distance: "53"
duration: 1 hour
description: This route takes its name from the pine tar industry that once thrived in this portion of the state.
contact: "**Wilson Visitors Bureau**  \n 252-243-8440  \n 1-800-497-7398  \n\n"
path: "my_yEr{pzMme@uw@YuCSeDA_BOaAaEgUyDoOqIyUcA_CmFeJwHwOsBoHsCmM_@uEIsCHyEXaDdAyHx@aJh@uMRqChGua@`J_g@lAaMX{EEmDgBk\\KgEDyEnC}z@NgJEyBoMqeCe@mFiDwRcMgp@gOcy@}XgdAcAeFqHmf@ic@alBiBqFwCwGkr@}}A}c@ov@kBsDs@gC_@qCC{GHmKaEiV_FiLyCaJmGo^oFkMkDsEwUqUsEyHaIyNeCsEeA}GuDs_@sDa^yF}]sBsQmD_a@aBiKiCcK_Pqa@mGgTM{F~@wJdCsPtAeJWuYoH}UyHoUmCyIVwHlJm\\hLua@dBoEE_d@lWok@|LsVvBsHx@kWtBcb@vD}e@jDqPr@gGVu]DkNB}KAsHYuIy@sEoRgn@_AkCuHcQs@aCa@sCMiMK}A_@mBm@sByCiGkJ}_@ec@}aBcDoQaA{JyFev@s@cG}Gy^}WeuAuAqFmd@_`BaLi`@yA{GaCwNq@mI]qUl@k_As@yIUqA}@iEoBqGaHoM}FqLqCyEsFuL}AaFyCsEgDsGsByJkBqNaHmx@yCqZiPqw@mDcIyEsGcNaNkBaBkm@mm@uFqDuSwLaY{OoDgDuMaQ}DgE{EsDeWaN}EyCwCgCsDuEyB}EcBuHuFik@k@sDoAaFgAsCiCqFsCsD}AsAwL{HsVwLaDqBuDgDyLoLmIuLaEaI_Nw_@kV{t@aEwKeJaRsYeb@qJuNmWga@qFqJuAoB}i@so@}BeDcA{B_AsCi@mC_@yDE{EJeEhE{c@p@}WWsEYeAuEam@_@uDwGif@iAwMyAkW{AuSiAmJ}DoS_AaEeBaNaH{jAE_CHgEbHydAb@aFlDmT~CyV`Eqa@lDe[DsBIcTSgVk@uH}Fsm@SiCCqBtEoe@JyC?yBfDcBlFuDta@mb@zIsJz@mAtIu[nA}FH}BTuc@TsBb@eBbBaDrQwX~AmE~Nmj@|BaMdNwgA~@gDjAyDzJeWhAaC|@gAvDwDl\\}XbCiC~BeFfHqZb@aDBkASwToC}|A}@uq@RsDfI}Yb@{Dc@uRUcPSyFUeFqC_We@_ICeALaBhCwMpKkf@r@eBt@uAxAkBvTiTvU{RzBaCbBuCnAqDr@qC`Kah@fB{Ct@e@pFaG|CqCzMqKdBeB"
designations: 
  - North Carolina State Scenic Byway
states: 
  - NC
ll: 
  - -77.91561899999994
  - 35.72135200000008
bounds: 
  - - -77.91561899999994
    - 35.72135200000008
  - - -77.05786099999995
    - 35.91207100000008

---

<p>This byway takes its name from the pine tar industry that once thrived in this portion of the state.  The name "Tar Heel" was given to the state's residents by British General Cornwallis' troops after they emerged from the nearby Tar River with tar stuck to their boots.   Tar Heel Trace passes through some of the most historic towns in North Carolina (founded as early as 1779) and through a pine-covered country that is both pleasant and peaceful. </p>