The mountains are found in the southeast of the Austrian state of Salzburg, between the upper reaches of the Enns and Mur rivers.

Their name is derived from the historic town of Radstadt in the Enns valley.

The Radstadt Tauern border on the following other mountain ranges of the Alps: According to the Alpine Club classification of the Eastern Alps (AVE), the mountains are bounded by the following line, in a clockwise direction:[6] Wagrainer Bach from its confluence with the Salzach – Wagrainer Höhe – Litzlingbach to its confluence with the Enns – Enns to Radstadt – Northern Taurach valley – Obertauern – Southern Taurach valley – Mauterndorf – Neuseß – Mur – Murtörl Pass – Kreealpenbach – Großarlbach to its confluence with the Salzach – Salzach to its confluence with the Wagrainer Bach.

In the north and south of the range, the Enns Valley and Mur Valley Railway lines, as well as parallel federal roads (Bundesstraßen) run along the upper Enns and upper Mur valleys.

The Radstadt Tauern are also well known for their ski touring terrain.