 NC 81 begins at the intersection of All Souls Crescent (US 25 north), Hendersonville Road (US 25 south), and Vanderbilt Road in Historic Biltmore Village.It runs northward via Hendersonville Road for , intersecting US 25A (Lodge Street) along the way.Immediately after crossing the Swannanoa River, it turns eastward on Swannanoa River Road, which closely tracks the path of the Swannanoa River.