By land, it adjoins Kimchaek and Kilchu to the west, and Myŏngch'ŏn to the north.

The southern region is relatively flat, while the inland north is rugged, with mountains of approximately 1,000 meters.

The Musudan-ri missile base is located on the coast near its namesake cape, which forms the northern end of the East Korea Bay.

In April 2002, Paleolithic fossils of approximately 300,000 years age were reported to have been excavated from a lava bed in Hwadae.

Hwadae County is divided into 1 ŭp (town) and 20 ri (villages):