It stretches 47 kilometres (29 mi), running from Bloor Street in Toronto to the Holland Marsh.

It runs north forming the eastern boundary to High Park until Bloor Street.

North of Highway 401 it passes by Downsview Airport and forms the border between the residential neighbourhoods to the west and the large Keele-Finch industrial area to the east.

At Steeles Avenue, the road allowance between the former North York and Vaughan Townships was connected in the early 1960s.

The TTC 107 York University Heights operates from Finch West station to Canarctic Drive (just south of Steeles Avenue).

North of Steeles Avenue, the York Region Transit 107 Keele runs from Pioneer Village station to Teston Road in Vaughan.