The highway extends approximately 12 miles (19 km) to an intersection with U.S. Route 89 at a location known as Kiowa.

Highway 49 is near the southeastern corner of Glacier National Park, and is heavily used by tourists during the summer months.

A spur road heading west from Montana 49 four miles (6 km) north of East Glacier provides access to the Two Medicine area of the park.

The northerly eight miles (13 km) of the route, passing over Looking Glass Hill, is unmaintained and usually impassable during the winter months.

Highway 49 was once part of the alignment of U.S. 2, prior to the construction of a highway bridge across Two Medicine Creek, which allowed for a more direct route between East Glacier and Browning.