Orange County, California, in the United States' Saddleback Valley is home to the commuter city of Mission Viejo. The city is situated 49 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 73 miles northwest of San Diego. Its boundaries are as follows: Rancho Santa Margarita and Ladera Ranch to the east, Trabuco Canyon to the northeast, Lake Forest to the northwest, San Juan Capistrano to the south, and Laguna Niguel and Laguna Hills to the west. The city has a total area of 18.1 square miles, of which 17.7 square miles are made up of land and 0.4 square miles (2.12%) are made up of water, according to the US Census Bureau.

Mission Viejo enjoys year-round temperate temperatures and plenty of sunshine due to its semi-arid/Mediterranean environment. The average daily minimum temperature is 44°F (7°C) in January and ranges to 61°F (16°C) in July. The average daily maximum temperature is 68°F (20°C) in January to 80°F (27°C) in August. There is a concentrated period of precipitation from November to March, with an average of 0.06 inches (1.5 mm) in July and 3.42 inches (87 mm) in February. Temperatures in the city can rise to 90°F (32°C) and higher in different months due to the sporadic dry Santa Ana winds.

Several parks, three golf courses, and the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center are just a few of the many recreational options available in Mission Viejo. The main attraction of the city is Lake Mission Viejo, an artificial lake that is only accessible by residents. It has swim beaches, waterfront residences, and boat rentals. Particularly in the summer, the lake is the site of activities including movie screenings and music performances. Mission Viejo embraced modern recreation and launched the first GeoTour in Southern California. It's a geocaching journey with 27 different caches scattered along the Oso Creek Trail and local recreation areas. In addition to attracting tourists, this project may improve the city's economy. A trackable geocoin, accessible at the Norman P. Murray Center, can be obtained by participants who locate at least 24 of the 27 caches utilizing a "passport" to find caches.

The Saddleback Valley Unified School District and the Capistrano Unified School District both serve Mission Viejo. Students in Capistrano Valley High School attend Capistrano Unified, which serves the eastern, northeastern, and southern regions. Students from Western Mission Viejo attend Mission Viejo High School in Saddleback Valley. The northernmost region is enrolled in Trabuco Hills High School. Adult and continuation schools include Pathfinder, Silverado High School, and Mira Monte High School. Located in the southern portion, Saddleback College is a well-known community college. Universities in the area include Cal State Fullerton (Irvine Campus), UC Irvine, Chapman University, and Soka University of America. 2009 saw the closure of La Tierra Elementary and O'Neill Elementary. The public Barcelona Hills and Bathgate elementary schools as well as the private Carden Academy and Al Ridah Academy—an Islamic elementary school—are among the well-known elementary schools in Mission Viejo.

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) bus services, such as MV Shuttle route 182, which connects to the Metrolink rail station, are part of Mission Viejo's transportation network. The Orange County Line and the Inland Empire-Orange County Line are served by the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink station. The city's highway network includes El Toro Road (County Route S18), Interstate 5, California State Route 241, and other roads. Historical markers also recognize the old U.S. The importance of the Highway 101 corridor in tying together San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco prior to Interstate 5.