 In the center of Rocky Mount, NC 97 turns to a north–south alignment, and follows Arlington Street until it leaves the city, joining the east–west Cool Spring Road just north of the city limits.From here, NC 97 closely parallels the Tar River and through the small town of Leggett.After the bridge over Fishing Creek (a tributary of the Tar River), NC 97 intersects with US 258 and travels another before ending at an intersection with NC 122 just outside the town of Hobgood.