Fredericton, New Brunswick is located at the bottom of the Saint John River, with most of the city’s post-war suburban development occurring on the gently sloping hills on either side of the river (although the downtown core is flat and lies low to the river).

At an altitude of approximately 17 meters above sea level, the city of Fredericton is embedded in the Pennsylvanian Basin. It contrasts markedly from the geologically older parts of the province. There are roughly two distinct areas in the region that are divided around Wilsey Road, in the east end of the city. In one area, the underlying bedrock is topographically dominant, whereas the other is controlled by Pleistocene and recent deposits leading to the rivers (resulting in the area being shallow and wide).

Fredericton and its surroundings are rich in water resources, which, coupled with highly arable soil, make the Fredericton region ideal for agriculture. The Saint John River and one of its major tributaries, the Nashwaak River, come together in Fredericton. The uninhabited parts of the city are heavily forested.