North Carolina Highway 56 (NC 56) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The primarily rural route travels east from Butner to NC 58 north of Castalia. The route connects several major towns in both Franklin and Granville counties including Creedmoor, Franklinton and Louisburg. NC 56 was originally routed from NC 50 in Creedmoor to NC 90 in Nashville. Between 1924 and 1930, NC 56 was truncated to NC 58 in Castalia and extended US 15 in Creedmoor after it was truncated to US 1 near Franklinton. In 1974 the route was extended west to its current terminus in Butner.