It runs from SR 45 in Hermitage, through middle Tennessee to its eastern terminus at US Route 70 (US 70) outside of Watertown.

It then goes southeasterly as a two-lane road through several neighborhoods before an intersection with SR 45 (Old Hickory Boulevard), just north of its interchange with Interstate 40 (I-40, exit 221).

Here, SR 265 begins and follows Central Pike eastward before leaving Hermitage and going through farmland, where it parallels I-40 for several miles before crossing into Wilson County.

SR 265 then curves southeastward again and winds its way through more farmland before coming to an intersection with US 231/SR 10 just south of Lebanon in Bairds Mill, where SR 265 changes names from Central Pike to Chicken Road before passing just north of Cedars of Lebanon State Park.

The highway then goes through more wooded areas as it continues east to an intersection with SR 266, where it changes designations from Chicken Road to Trammel Lane.