The highway's northern stretch between US 17 in South Mills and US 158 in Camden is frequently used in the summer months as an alternative route to congested NC 168/US 158 by Outer Banks-bound travelers from the Hampton Roads metro area of Virginia.
The two highways leave Goose Creek and the B-Line west of Delaplane, where SR 55 veers away from I-66 temporarily and joins US 17 (Winchester Road) in a concurrency before the two highways merge onto I-66 near Oak Hill, the country estate of John Marshall.