U.S. Route 45

U.S. Route 45 (US 45) is a major north–south United States Highway that spans over 1,300 miles from the Gulf of Mexico in Mobile, Alabama, to the shores of Lake Superior in Ontonagon, Michigan. Serving as a vital corridor through the central United States, US 45 passes through eight states—Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan—offering a mix of rural landscapes, small towns, and urban centers. The route plays a significant role in both regional transportation and national connectivity, intersecting with several key east–west highways and interstates along its path.

In the southern states, US 45 serves as a crucial connector between Gulf Coast ports and inland communities. In Mississippi, the highway is a designated four-lane corridor for much of its length, supporting freight and commercial traffic while linking cities like Meridian, Columbus, and Tupelo. Northward, it merges briefly with US 64 and US 70 in Tennessee, passing through historic Corinth and Jackson before crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky. As it enters the Midwest, US 45 transitions from a rural arterial route to a suburban highway serving metro areas like Chicago’s southern suburbs.

In Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, US 45 becomes a scenic drive, weaving through rolling hills, forests, and lakes. It’s especially popular with tourists seeking access to outdoor recreation areas, including the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The highway’s northern terminus in Ontonagon provides access to some of Michigan’s most remote and picturesque lakefront communities, making US 45 one of the few U.S. Highways to connect the Gulf of Mexico directly with the Great Lakes.