Rancho Cordova is situated in the eastern part of Sacramento County, just east of the city of Sacramento. It is bordered by the American River to the north and the city of Folsom to the east. The population was 79,332 at the 2020 census. In 2010 and 2019, Rancho Cordova was named as a winner of the All-America City Award.

Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area is a California State Park situated at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills, 20 miles east of downtown Sacramento and three miles south of U.S. 50. The area offers off-highway vehicle enthusiasts a variety of interesting terrain and trails for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and 4-wheel drive vehicles.

Sunrise Recreation Area provides recreation and education for thousands of visitors each year. The park is divided into two areas, Upper Sunrise and Lower Sunrise. Upper Sunrise has a boat launch, while Lower Sunrise provides fishing, equestrian trails, picnicking and nature walks. Both Upper and Lower Sunrise provide special interests and visitors with ample sights to see.