It encompasses the territory of the former comitatus (county) of Árva of Kingdom of Hungary.

The county's territory was situated along the Orava River between Zázrivá and the Tatra Mountains.

In Slovakia, it is divided between Dolný Kubín, Tvrdošín, and Námestovo districts in the Žilina Region.

The most important town on the Slovak side (and also the seat of the former county) is Dolný Kubín.

The Polish part of Orava belongs to the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, to the Nowy Targ County, with the main village of the Polish side being Jabłonka.