SR 71 begins concurrent with US 441 within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the North Carolina state line on Newfound Gap. SR 71 is known as Newfound Gap Road within the park, and follows along a valley carved by the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River as a narrow and curvy 2-Lane highway. Newfound Gap Road then becomes concurrent with SR 73 Scenic before having an interchange with the Gatlinburg Bypass and entering the city of Garlinburg, where US 441/SR 71/SR 73 Scenic leaves the park and becomes Parkway, a 4-lane undivided highway as it passes through the city. Parkway then has an intersection with US 321/SR 73, where SR 73 Scenic ends and US 321/SR 73 joins Parkway. Parkway heads north to have another interchange with the Garlinburg Bypass before leaving Garlinburg and becoming a divided highway known as the Foothills Parkway Spur. Parkway then enters the city of Pigeon Forge and widens to a 6-lane. It passes through the city and has an intersection with SR 449 before US 321/SR 73 head north along Wears Valley Road. US 441/SR 71 then crosses a bridge over the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River to enter Sevierville. They pass by several tourist attractions and a Tanger Outlets before again crossing the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River and turning of the Parkway and north onto Forks of the River Parkway at the southern edge of downtown. They bypass downtown on the west side as an undivided highway before coming to an intersection with SR 66 and US 411/SR 35, where US 441/SR 71 turns left to become concurrent with US 411/SR 35 as a 4-lane undivided highway known as Chapman Highway. Chapman Highway then crosses a bridge over West Prong of the Little Pigeon River and leaves Sevierville as a divided highway through rural areas. It then passes through some mountainous areas as an undivided highway before entering Seymour. Chapman Highway passes by several homes and businesses before coming to an intersection with SR 338, where US 411/SR 35 heads south along Maryville Highway. US 441/SR 71 continues north to pass through a small portion of Blount County before leaving Seymour and crossing into Knox County.
Knox County
US 441/SR 71 passes through suburban areas as it enters South Knoxville. It has an interchange with SR 168 before passing through a business district. SR 71 then breaks off from US 441 and follows E Moody Avenue for a few blocks before joining South Knox Boulevard at an interchange with its current southern end. SR 71 then heads north as a freeway and has interchanges with Cottrell Street, Sevier Avenue, and Hilwood Avenue before crossing a bridge over the Tennessee River to enter downtown Knoxville. SR 71 then turns west and leaves James White Parkway, which continues as SR 158, and follows the adjoining exit ramp for Riverside Drive, Hill Avenue, Hall of Fame Drive; even through SR 71 is signed as a primary highway along SR 158. This the only section where SR 71 sign is posted. SR 71 then follows Hall of Fame Drive north through downtown, running parallel to SR 158, and has an intersection with US 11/US 70/SR 1 before having an interchange with I-40. It then becomes concurrent with US 441/SR 33 at an interchange. Broadway continues north as a 4-lane undivided highway through neighborhoods and suburban areas before having an intersection with SR 331 and an interchange with I-640/US 25W/SR 9 and entering Fountain City. Broadway has a partial interchange with SR 331 before it passes through a business district before passing through downtown. It then becomes a divided highway as it crosses a ridge, where it leaves Fountain City and Knoxville to enter Halls Crossroads. Broadway now becomes Maynardville Pike and passes through suburban areas and business districts before US 441/SR 71 splits off from SR 33 along Norris Freeway as a 4-lane undivided highway shortly before having an intersection with SR 131. The highway then narrows to 2-lanes and leaves Halls Crossroads to pass through rural areas. It then becomes concurrent with SR 170 before crossing into Anderson County.
Anderson County
SR 170 splits off from US 441/SR 71 along Hickory Valley Road before US 441/SR 71 continues north through rural areas to enter the city of Norris, where they have a short concurrency with SR 61 before passing through Norris Dam State Park and crossing the Clinch Riveron top of the Norris Dam. The highway turns east and becomes windy and curvy as its crosses into Campbell County twice for short distances before re entering Anderson County to enter Rocky Top. US 441/SR 71 then have an interchange with I-75 and widen to an undivided 4-lane shortly before coming to an end at an intersection with US 25W/SR 9/SR 116 just north of downtown.
Future
At this time, South Knox Boulevard ends at Sevierville Pike, although there are current plans to extend the road to meet US 441 or SR 168.
