Großenkneten is one of the largest municipalities in Germany, in terms of its area, and is situated between the rivers Hunte and Lethe, in the landscape called Wildeshauser Geest.

Großenkneten is divided in 19 neighborhoods (Ortsteile), which are (with population of 2012): Ahlhorn (6.441), Amelhausen (120), Bakenhus (48), Bissel (319), Döhlen (461), Großenkneten (2.637), Hagel (32), Halenhorst (237), Haschenbrok (79), Hengstlage (136), Hespenbusch-Pallast (78), Hosüne (569), Huntlosen (1.831), Husum (60), Sage (623), Sage-Haast (290), Sannum (217), Steinloge (128) and Westrittrum (106).

Between 1952 and 1957 Karl Poggensee and his association DAFRA (the precursor of the Hermann Oberth Society) operated a small launch site for experimental rockets close to the Hespenbusch farm.

Special recreational locations include several prehistoric tombs and the fish lakes of Ahlhorn.

Originally built in the 1880s as a fish farm using the waters of the river Lethe, they have been a nature preserve since 1993.