[2] SR 45 makes up much of the northern half of Nashville's Old Hickory Boulevard loop.

Traveling parallel to Little Creek, it enters Nashville proper and continues past I-24 exit 40 to its intersection with US 31W/US 41 (Dickerson Pike).

SR 45 goes south of Cedar Hill Park and past I-65 exit 92 to enter Madison, where it has an intersection with US 31E (Gallatin Pike).

It heads south through Lakewood and by The Hermitage, to the eponymous town of Hermitage, where it has intersections with US 70 (Lebanon Pike) and SR 265 (Central Pike).

SR 45 ends at I-40 exit 221, and Old Hickory Boulevard continues south to Bell Road.