The Rolava originates in the territory of Přebuz in the Ore Mountains at an elevation of 921 m (3,022 ft) and flows to Karlovy Vary, where it enters the Ohře River at an elevation of 370 m (1,210 ft).

Its drainage basin has an area of 138.0 km2 (53.3 sq mi).

[1] The longest tributaries of the Rolava are:[2] The most notable settlement on the river is the city of Karlovy Vary.

The river flows through the municipal territories of Přebuz, Vysoká Pec, Nové Hamry, Nejdek, Smolné Pece, Nová Role and Karlovy Vary.

The largest of them is the Lesík Reservoir with an area of 9.3 ha (23 acres), built on the Nejdecký potok.