State Route 192 (Foothill Road) bisects the southern portion of the area, running from east to west, and Mission Canyon Road passes through the area from north to south.

Another major north-south artery is Tunnel Road, which leads to the trailhead for several popular hiking trails that originates from an area of medium density and semi-rural development at the canyon's northern extremity, and extends into Los Padres National Forest in the Santa Ynez Mountains.

[9] The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is located in Mission Canyon.

[10] Situated along the southern facing slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains, Mission Canyon measures some 1,122 acres comprising an estimated 1,141 parcels primarily consisting of single-family residential development, recreational, open space, and agricultural land uses; but however lacks any commercial or industrial development.

The topography of the neighborhood varies from relatively flat areas located south of Foothill Road to greater slopes north of Foothill Road, ranging in elevations from approximately 300 ft (91 m) to just over 1,000 ft (305 m) above sea level.

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F.

[11] The 2010 United States Census[12] reported that Mission Canyon had a population of 2,381.

264 households (25.9%) were made up of individuals, and 97 (9.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,075 housing units at an average density of 694.7 per square mile (268.2/km2), of which 782 (76.7%) were owner-occupied, and 238 (23.3%) were occupied by renters.