| State: | NC |
| Type: | NC |
| Route: | 81 |
| Alternate Name: | Swannanoa River Road |
| Map: | NC 81 map.svg |
| Length Mi: | 4.2 |
| Length Round: | 3 |
| Length Ref: | [1] |
| Direction A: | West |
| Direction B: | East |
| Terminus A: | in Asheville |
| Junction: |
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| Terminus B: | in Asheville |
| Established: | 1934 |
| Counties: | Buncombe |
| Previous Type: | NC |
| Previous Route: | 80 |
| Next Type: | NC |
| Next Route: | 82 |
North Carolina Highway 81 (NC 81) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina that runs entirely in Asheville and Buncombe County from US 25 to US 70.
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. Westbound lanes of NC 81, however, are routed for via Bryson Street, which intersects Biltmore Avenue one block north of Swannanoa River Road. After NC 81 intersects US 74A (South Tunnel Road) near the Asheville Mall. It runs concurrent with US 74A for before US 74A turns southward onto Fairview Road. NC 81 continues to follow the Swannanoa River for another and then turns to the northward, ultimately terminating at US 70 (Tunnel Road) in Asheville's Oteen neighborhood.
NC 81 was designated in 1934 as a renumbering of NC 10 from US 25 (current Biltmore Avenue) to US 70/US 74 (current US 74A).[2] The road was then extended in 1937 when US 25 was rerouted in Asheville. NC 81 was placed south along Biltmore Avenue to the current end of the road at the intersection of US 25 and US 25A. Then in 1938 the road was extended to its current terminus at US 70.[3]