[2][3] Burnside became Portland's principal east–west axis following the 1912 Bennett Plan, soon becoming one of the widest streets in the city.

[3] The street runs from SW Barnes Road in Sylvan-Highlands to the Mount Hood Highway in Gresham, a distance of over 17 miles (27 km).

It crosses the Willamette River via the Burnside Bridge, where the White Stag sign is visible.

For a number of years, the portion of Burnside between NW 19th Avenue and NE Sandy Boulevard was designated U.S. Route 30.

It is served by TriMet bus line 20 between Barnes Road and NE/SE 102nd Avenue, and several MAX Blue Line light-rail stations are located along its route in East Portland between 102nd Avenue and Ruby Junction.