The western shore of the lake is on the boundary with Emmet County.

The lake is named after William Austin Burt, who, together with John Mullett, made a federal survey of the area from 1840 to 1843.

The lake is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long from north to south, about 5 miles (8.0 km) at its widest, and 73 feet (22 m) at its deepest.

The unincorporated community of Burt Lake is on the southwest shore on M-68.

Interstate 75 passes to the east of the lake, with two interchanges near the south end of the lake at the unincorporated community of Indian River.