Editing Interstate 26 (section)

===North Carolina===
{{Main|Interstate 26 in North Carolina}}
[[File:Skyuka Mountain.JPG|thumb|I-26 and [[U.S. Route 74|US&nbsp;74]] in [[Polk County, North Carolina]]]]
As I-26 crosses the Bald Mountains after crossing the North Carolina–Tennessee state line, it travels through a relatively high-elevation rural area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/plan-your-trip/scenic-byways/i-26-scenic-highway/|title=I-26 Scenic Highway|website=Blue Ridge National Heritage Area|language=en-US|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref> At Sam's Gap, its reaches its highest elevation of {{convert|3760|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=19924d8c-c790-4bdf-a629-293603aa321c |title=Sams Gap: NC/TN Border |publisher= Waymarking.com |access-date=November 27, 2011}}</ref> At Buckner Gap, I-26 reaches {{convert|3370|ft|m}} in elevation. For {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} on each side of the state line, its elevation is at least {{convert|3000|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite map |url=http://mapserver.mytopo.com/homepage/index.cfm?lat=35.95472&lon=-82.56083&scale=24000&zoom=100&type=1&icon=0&searchscope=dom&CFID=4710347&CFTOKEN=35330172&scriptfile=http://mapserver.mytopo.com/homepage/index.cfm&latlontype=DMS |publisher= Maptech |title= Sams Gap |access-date=November 27, 2011}}</ref>

It enters first the [[Walnut Mountains|Walnut]] and [[Bald Mountains|Bald]] mountains of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], passing through the [[Pisgah National Forest|Pisgah]] and [[Cherokee National Forest|Cherokee]] national forests as it does so, and then the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]]. Future I-26, which is not signed I-26 because it does not yet meet all interstate standards, then passes through [[Mars Hill, North Carolina|Mars Hill]] and [[Weaverville, North Carolina|Weaverville]]. After coming into [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]] from the north, I-26 merges with [[Interstate 240 (North Carolina)|I-240]] and the two share the highway for {{convert|4.5|mi|km}}, crossing [[French Broad River]] in the process. The two highways then have a major [[Interchange (road)|interchange]] with [[Interstate 40|I-40]], where I-240 ends and [[U.S. Route 23|US&nbsp;23]] splits off to the east. I-26 leaves Asheville toward the south.

The land flattens substantially after entering the [[French Broad River]] [[drainage basin]] from [[Arden, North Carolina|Arden]], [[Fletcher, North Carolina|Fletcher]], and [[Hendersonville, North Carolina|Hendersonville]] to [[Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina|Flat Rock]] in [[Henderson County, North Carolina|Henderson County]]. Then it crosses the [[Eastern Continental Divide]] at an elevation of {{convert|2130|ft|m}}, and it passes over the highest bridge in [[North Carolina]], the [[Peter Guice Memorial Bridge]], {{convert|225|ft|m}} above the [[Green River (North Carolina)|Green River]] between Flat Rock and [[Saluda, North Carolina|Saluda]]. I-26 heads down a six-percent grade for the next {{Convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} through Howard Gap,  into [[Polk County, North Carolina|Polk County]], and intersects with [[U.S. Route 76 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;74]], a limited-access freeway near [[Columbus, North Carolina|Columbus]], at an elevation of around {{convert|1100|ft|m}}. Afterward, I-26 exits the state and heads about {{convert|20|mi|km}} to [[Spartanburg, South Carolina]], exiting the [[foothills]] of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

I-26 has been deemed a scenic highway in North Carolina between its interchange with [[U.S. Route 19|US&nbsp;19]]/US&nbsp;23 N (exit&nbsp;9) and the North Carolina–Tennessee border.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scenicbyways.info/byway/81459.html|title=America's Scenic Byways::Interstate 26 Scenic Highway|website=scenicbyways.info|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref> At Sam's Gap, the [[Appalachian Trail]] crosses under I-26. In addition, northbound travelers are able to see the [[Blue Ridge Parkway]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romanticasheville.com/listing/explore/i-26-scenic-highway.htm|title=I-26 Scenic Highway|website=www.romanticasheville.com|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref>