It serves as a bypass around the busy tourist areas in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge.

This route avoids the congested traffic areas along the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge.

SR 449 begins as Dollywood Lane at an intersection with US 321/US 441/SR 71/SR 73 (Parkway) in Pigeon Forge.

It travels to the northeast as a 4-lane undivided highway, crossing over the West Prong Little Pigeon River, before making a wide curve to the northwest, where Dollywood Lane splits off and SR 449 begins following Veterans Boulevard.

SR 449 continues north through rural areas to have an intersection with Collier Drive before coming to an end at an intersection with US 411/SR 35 (Dolly Parton Parkway) just east of downtown near the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport.