Alabama State Route 65

State Route 65
Route information
Maintained by ALDOT
Length:	27.540 mi (44.321 km)
Existed:	1940 – present
Major junctions
South end:	US 72 at Paint Rock
	SR 146 at Swaim
North end:	SR 97 at Tennessee state line north of Francisco, AL
Location
Counties:	Jackson
Highway system
Alabama State Routes Interstate US State ← I‑65 SR 66 →

State Route 65 is a 27.5-mile-long (44.3 km) route in western Jackson County, Alabama, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at its junction with U.S. Highway 72 at Paint Rock, Alabama. The northern terminus of the route is at the Alabama-Tennessee state line. North of the state line the route continues as Tennessee State Route 97.

Route description

State Route 65/Tennessee State Route 97 serves as a connecting route between US-72 in northern Alabama and U.S. Highway 64 in Franklin County, Tennessee. From the route’s southern origin, the route is aligned along a two-lane road with numerous curves as it passes through the mountainous regions of northeastern Alabama and southern Tennessee. North of Paint Rock, State Route 65 passes through the unincorporated communities of Garth, Trenton, Hollytree, Princeton, Swaim and Francisco before it crosses into Tennessee. The route is notable because it runs through the entire length of the Paint Rock valley, a scenic valley in the Cumberland Plateau. This route is also known as the Curly Putman Highway, named after the songwriter who lived in the northern portion of the valley.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Jackson County.

Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
​	0.000	0.000	US 72 (SR-2)
Swaim	17.543	28.233	SR 146 east – Estillfork
​	27.540	44.321	SR 97 north – Huntland	Tennessee state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi