It is bounded by Arcadia to the west and southwest, Corinthia to the north, the Saronic Gulf, the Attica prefecture and the Troezen area to the east and southeast over water, and the Argolic Gulf to the south. (The Argolid of ancient times included Troezen.)
Its mountain ranges include Lyrkeia and Trachy in the northwest.
From 1833 to 1899, the prefecture was part Argolidocorinthia, which included Hydra, Spetses and Kythira. It joined Corinthia to form Argolidocorinthia again in 1909. Forty years later, in 1949, the prefecture was finally separated from Corinthia. See also Argolidocorinthia.
In early 1998, a flash flood carrying muddy water swept through the valley near Argos and devastated citrus crops and other area agriculture, including olives and other crops, and grazing areas. Damages were several million drachmas, then still the currency of Greece.
The area is connected by highways:
| Municipality | Municipal code | Seat (if different) | Postal code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argos | 0402 | 212 00 | |
| Asini | 0403 | Drepano | 210 60 |
| Asklipieio | 0404 | Lygourio | 210 52 |
| Epidaurus | 0406 | Archaía Epídavros | 210 54 |
| Ermioni | 0407 | 210 51 | |
| Koutsopodi | 0408 | 210 00 | |
| Kranidi | 0409 | 213 00 | |
| Lerna | 0410 | Myloi | 212 00 |
| Lyrkeia | 0411 | 210 58 | |
| Midea | 0412 | Agia Triada | 210 55 |
| Mykines | 0413 | 212 00 | |
| Nafplion | 0414 | 211 00 | |
| Nea Kios | 0415 | 210 53 | |
| Nea Tiryntha | 0416 | Tíryns | 211 00 |
| Community | YPES code | Seat | Postal code |
| Achladokampos | 0405 | 210 57 | |
| Alea | 0401 | Skoteiní | 205 00 |