The island lies between the Trondheimsleia strait and the Frøyfjorden, just southwest of the entrance to the Trondheimsfjorden.

[2] Hitra is surrounded by many islands such as Smøla to the southwest; Bispøyan, Helgbustadøya, Dolmøya, and Frøya to the north; Ulvøya, Fjellværsøya, and Leksa to the east; and Hemnskjela and the mainland of Norway to the south.

The largest villages on the island are Fillan, Sandstad, Hestvika, Kvenvær, Ansnes, and Melandsjøen.

In 2004, Statkraft completed the construction of the Hitra Wind Farm on the island.

The farm has 24 windmills and produces a maximum power output of 55 megawatts (74,000 hp).