West Sacramento is located in California's rich Central Valley at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers in eastern Yolo County. The City of Sacramento lies across the Sacramento River to the east and the Yolo and Sacramento Bypasses form the north and west borders. West Sacramento is approximately 83 miles east of San Francisco, 136 miles west of Reno, Nevada, 288 miles south of the Oregon border and 387 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The City is part of a four county metropolitan area which includes Yolo County, Sacramento County, and portions of Placer County and El Dorado County. West Sacramento's city limits extend from the Sacramento River and Tule Jake Road on the north, the Sacramento River on the east, Shangri-La Slough on the south, and the Yolo Bypass on the west.

Bounded by the Sacramento River and the Deep Water Ship Channel, West Sacramento is essentially a peninsula. Located on the natural floodplain of the Sacramento River, the area is reclaimed land protected by levees and is characterized by a pattern of open ditches and canals. The Deep Water Ship Channel and barge canal bisect the City in an east-west direction separating the Southport area from the northern areas known as Broderick, Bryte, and West Sacramento. West Sacramento is both defined and constrained by the network of highways, roads, streets, and transit services that move its residents and goods throughout the City. It has one of the most comprehensive transportation networks on the west coast, opening the door to interstate and international commerce by land and water. The extensive north-south, east-west highway access and central geographic location make the City an excellent distribution center. Major transcontinental rail lines provide rail service to all parts of the nation. In addition, the Port of Sacramento, located in the center of the City, offers both domestic and international shipping services.

West Sacramento's climate is characterized generally as Mediterranean with an average annual precipitation of 17.1 inches. Prevailing winds are from the southwest at an average wind speed of 8.5 miles per hour. The average summer temperature is a high of 95*F and a low of 60*7. The average winter temperature is a high of 53*F and a low of 37*F. Normal relative humidity is 46 percent during the day and 82 percent at night.