Auburn is located in Lee County in east-central Alabama, approximately 50 miles east of Montgomery and 115 miles southwest of Atlanta, Georgia. It sits near the "fall line" of the Southeastern United States, a geological ecotone that marks the transition between the rolling hills of the Piedmont plateau to the north and the flatter Coastal Plain to the south.
This unique transitional geography means the city benefits from a diverse local ecosystem. The northern and western parts of the city feature steeper hills and dense hardwood and pine forests, while the southern portions flatten out. The area is intersected by several creeks and streams, most notably Chewacla Creek, which runs through Chewacla State Park, providing vital natural resources, recreational opportunities, and small cascading waterfalls.