Tuao is located on the southwestern edge of Cagayan Valley. It is bounded on the north by the municipalities of Piat and Rizal, on the northeast by the municipality of Solana, on the southeast by the municipalities of Solana and Enrile and on the southwest by the province of Kalinga. It lies on meridians of 121° 15’ E longitude and 17° N latitude. The town is traversed by the Chico River dividing the municipality into two (2) regions, the western and eastern Tuao. It is about 50 kilometers from Tuguegarao City, the provincial capital of Cagayan.