Woodland is the county seat of Yolo County, located in California's Central Valley. Woodland is located 20 miles northwest of Sacramento at the intersection of Interstate 5 and State Route 113. To the south is the City of Davis, with its University of California campus. The Sacramento International Airport is eight miles to the east. Waterways include the Yolo Bypass and Sacramento River to the east, Willow Slough to the southeast, and Cache Creek to the north.
Woodland has a strong historic heritage, which is reflected in an impressive stock of historic buildings in its downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods. Woodland's agricultural setting is largely responsible for the community's distinct identity and plays an important economic role in Woodland. Due to its proximity to major transportation nodes, Woodland has also become increasingly important as a manufacturing and distribution center.