Mt. Sterling is located in central Ohio in Madison County about 20 miles southwest of Columbus on the eastern edge of the great till plains of Ohio. These plains receive their name from the glacial debris, or till, which is a mixture of sand, silt and gravel that was deposited by the glaciers.
The town is the headquarters for Deer Creek State Park located 10 miles to the south-southeast. The park is anchored by 1,300-acre Deer Creek Lake which was created in 1968. In addition, the park supports Deer Creek State Park Golf Course, a public, full-length, 18-hole facility that plays to a par of 72.