Cactus Flat is one of the Central Nevada Desert Basins[3] in the Cactus-Sacrobatus Watershed, for which it is an eponym.

The flat is the location of the Tonopah Test Range Airport and Tonopah Test Range, a component of the Nevada Test and Training Range used for weapons testing since the 1950s.

[4] The flat is also the site of the 615 sq mi (1,590 km2) Nevada Wild Horse Range of the Nellis Air Force Range.

[5] The Kawich Range lies to the northeast and the Cactus Range to the southwest.

Jack Rabbit Knob is 11.5 km (7.1 mi) east of Antelope Lake playa in Cactus Flat.