Altus is located in southwest Oklahoma in Jackson County (of which it is the county seat) along U.S. Highway 62. Tom Steed Lake and Great Plains State Park lie to the northeast of town.

For museum buffs, the lively past of southwestern Oklahoma is exhibited in the Museum of the Western Prairie. The town is also the home of Altus Air Force base with its 97th Air Mobility Wing featuring the C-5 Galaxy, the largest U.S. military airplane.

Recreational opportunities include 6,260-acre Lake Altus-Lugert, Quartz Mountain State Park and an 18-hole golf course.

Those desiring a post-high school educational experience can attend Western Oklahoma State College, the area's community college.