NC 214 begins at an intersection with Business U.S. Routes US 74 Business and US 76 Business about  east of Whiteville. The intersection is located just south of exit 244 on US 74/US 76.
The two-lane road heads southeast then due east through a rural area until reaching the communities of Hallsboro and Artesia. NC 214 heads north of Lake Waccamaw. Though the road never strays more than  from the US 74/US 76 freeway throughout its entire length, the freeway dips south to cross the Friar Swamp/Green Swamp immediately adjacent to the lanes of NC 214.