The two-lane highway starts at FM 102 northwest of Eagle Lake in Colorado County, heads in a northerly direction across Interstate 10, swings northeast through the small communities of Bernardo and Cat Spring and ends at State Highway 36 (SH 36) near Peters in Austin County.

After continuing in a northwesterly direction for less than one mile to Frelsburg Road, FM 949 turns sharply to the northeast again.

The highway goes 10.5 miles (16.9 km) northeast through Bernardo, across the San Bernard River into Austin County and comes to the junction with FM 2187 in Cat Spring.

FM 949 goes another 4.9 miles (7.9 km) in a southeasterly direction before terminating at SH 36 a short distance north of Peters.

On July 18, 1955, the highway was authorized to start from FM 102 at Ramsey and continue northeast and northwest to Bernardo, a distance of approximately 9.5 miles (15.3 km).