Cumberland Co.: Fayetteville (Eastern Blvd); Eastover 

Harnett Co.: Dunn (Clinton Ave, Ellis Ave) 

Johnston Co.: Benson (Wall St); Four Oaks (Wellons Ave); Smithfield (3rd St, 8th St); Selma (Pollock St); Kenly

Wilson Co.:Lucama; Wilson (Ward Ave)

Nash Co.: Rocky Mount (Church St), Whitakers

Edgecomb Co.: NONE

Halifax Co.:Enfield (McDaniel St); Halifax (Main St); Weldon

Northampton Co.:Garysburg; Pleasant Hill

In late 1934, US 301 dropped its state route multiplexes: all of NC 22 (SC to near Wilson), and NC 40 (Wilson to VA). 

In 1951 or 1952, US 301 was bypassed as new construction around central Fayetteville, using today's 4-lane Eastern Blvd. between Gillespie and Clinton Rd. The old route through Fayetteville became US 301-A (mostly unnumbered today).
It appears that in this timeframe US 301 was given its Halifax Bypass. Main St would become US 301-A then (US 301 Business today).  

In 1953 or 1954, US 301 received a semi-freeway bypass of Rocky Mount, with the old route on Church St becoming US 301-A (US 301 Business today).
Also, US 301 was given its current Weldon Bypass. The 1956 Rand McNally implies a 301-A was created, but the 1958 Official makes it appear that one was not.
Also, US 301 was given its current bypass of Lumberton to the west as new construction. The old route through town became US 301-A (today this is half unnumbered, half NC 72 and a sliver of NC 41)
Also, US 301 was given its current Cape Fear River crossing, leaving behind any NC 24 multiplex and unnumbered Dunn Rd.  

In 1955 or 1956, US 301 was moved onto its current routing in the Wilson area, over a 4-lane route that had been built to the east, partially in the late 40's as the new US 264 Bypass, and the rest at this time. The old route through Wilson became the second US 301-A (unnumbered today except for a little of NC 42) 

By 1958, US 301 was 4-lane around Lumberton, 4-lane for several miles either side of Fayetteville, and 4-lane through much of the Kenly-Rocky Mount stretch. This is when Elm City was bypassed, with no number given to the road through town. 

By 1961, I-95 was given to the Lumberton Bypass as well.  

The only other change since then to mainline US 301 occurred in the early 1980's, by 1984. US 301 was extended south along I-95 from US 74 to Exit 10. US 301 then jogged west over to its historic routing to go to Rowland. The old route became unnumbered.. 

US 301 is pretty much the step-child to I-95, with only Kenly to Battleboro really suitable for through travel. The other sections don't get much traffic, but the route is slow as it passes through many towns.
US 301 must not have been a preferred line of travel in the earlier days, as there were no real improvements to the route until the 1950's.
A ggod example of early NC interstate configurations still exist on US 301 between the Cape Fear River and Eastover. I believe in the 1970's this part was actually signed as I-95.
US 301 is blown off by I-40 in Benson. Use NC 242, if you please.
Until the late 1970's-early 1980's, Exits 22,25, and 31 on I-95 all had no references to US 301 on the BGS's. Going NB, it was "Local Traffic", "Local Traffic" and "TO NC 71 Parkton"; SB was "St Pauls", "Local Traffic", and "Lumberton" There were 301 shields at the top of the ramps, though.
I believe US 301 is the only US route to pass through an area code of the same number, as US 301 passes through the 301 Area Code in Maryland.