NC 98 was established in 1934 as a renumbering of a section of NC 581; from NC 91 (Jones Dairy Road) in Wake Forest to US 64 west of Spring Hope. In 1940, it was truncated to a relocated NC 91 (Zebulon Road), with its routing west into Wake Forest becoming part of NC 91. In 1941, NC 98 was extended north as a new primary routing to US 1 in Youngsville. In 1952, NC 98 was rerouted west through Wake Forest ending in Durham, replacing NC 264; its former alignment became part of NC 96.