McCartys is located in northern Cibola County in the valley of the Rio San Jose, an east-flowing tributary of the Rio Puerco.

Indian Service Route 30 passes through the center of the community.

Interstate 40 forms the northwestern edge of the CDP, with the nearest access from Exit 96, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the northeast.

Grants, the Cibola County seat, is 12 miles (19 km) to the northwest.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.20 square miles (0.52 km2), all land.