It is the center of the Isarwinkel, the region along the Isar between Bad Tölz and Wallgau.

By area, it is the largest rural municipality ("Gemeinde") in what was formerly West Germany, and the 7th-largest overall.

For many years, Lenggries was the only settlement on the "long Gries" ruled by the Barons of Hörwarth from the Hofmark castle, the Hohenburg.

The economy is mostly dependent on tourism, primarily focused on hiking and with emphasis on the forests of the area.

The town is the terminus (terminal) of the Munich — Lenggries railway (Green line) operated by Bayerische Oberlandbahn (BOB).