U.S. Route 15 is a north–south United States highway that traverses the majority of North Carolina in concurrency with U.S. Route 501, known as the "15-501" ("Fifteen Five-o-one").

From the South Carolina state line, US 15 is in concurrency with US 401 to Laurinburg. Merging with US 501, it becomes what is known as the "15-501" ("Fifteen Five-o-one"), a concurrency that extends for 106 miles (171 km) across central North Carolina; US 15 also the dominant partner, using its mile markers along the route. After Laurinburg it goes north to Aberdeen, linking briefly with US 1 before continuing to Pinehurst. In Pinehurst, 15-501 goes through a rare roundabout, then continues north, through Carthage, back to US 1. After another brief concurrency with US 1 through Sanford, it exits off the freeway and goes due north to Pittsboro. After Pittsboro, 15-501 becomes an expressway, connecting the cities of Chapel Hill and Durham; this section of the route is famous because of the two universities it connects: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. Though the road is a symbol of the separation of the Carolina-Duke rivalry, NCDOT has been trying to remedy that by making the route a superstreet for better traffic flow. In Durham, 15-501 upgrades to an urban freeway, allowing for quick access from south Durham to north; the freeway ends merging into Interstate 85. At exit 176B (on I-85), US 501 splits off towards Roxboro, while US 15 continues with I-85 towards Oxford.

After Durham, US 15 continues to follow I-85 till exit 186A, where it goes first to Creedmoor, then on into Oxford. After going through downtown Oxford, it continues north, near Mayo Lake, to Clarksville, Virginia.

Established in 1927, it was aligned along NC 75 from the South Carolina state line, through Rockingham, Pinehurst and Durham, to the Virginia state line.

Established in 1936 as a renumbering of U.S. Route 401, from the South Carolina state line to Creedmore, going through the cities of Laurinburg, Raeford, Fayetteville, Lillington, and Raleigh. In 1950, South Carolina discontinued the US 15A concurrency with US 15, but was not till 1953 when North Carolina followed and moved US 15A's southern terminus in Laurinburg. In 1957, US 15A was renumbered back to US 401.

Established between 1960-1962 following the original mainline US 15 route through Laurinburg. US 15 Business, in concurrency partly with US 401 Business and US 501 Business, traverses along Main Street and Aberdeen Road.

The entire route is in Laurinburg, Scotland County.

Established in 1957 when mainline US 15 was bypassed west of Sanford. US 15A, in concurrency with US 1A and US 501A, traversed on Carthage Street and Hawkins Avenue. In 1960, it was renumbered as US 15 Business.

Established in 1960 as a renumbering of US 15A along Carthage Street and Hawkins Avenue, in concurrency with US 1 Business and US 501 Business. Between 1976-1978, US 1 Business was rerouted along NC 42 on Wicker Street; it is believed that both US 15 Business and US 501 Business were decommissioned by that time.

Established in 1953 when mainline US 15 was bypassed around Chapel Hill. US 15A, in concurrency with US 501A, traversed on Columbia Street and Franklin Street. In 1960, it was renumbered as US 15 Business.

Established in 1960 as a renumbering of US 15A along Columbia and Franklin Streets, in concurrency with US 501 Business. It was decommissioned between 1985-1987.

Established in 1960 as a renumbering of mainline US 15, along University Drive and Roxboro Street, through downtown Durham. It is in concurrency with US 501 Business for majority of its route and has relativity unchanged since inception.

The entire route is in Durham, Durham County.