It is located 2 miles (3 km) southwest of Dos Palos[4] at an elevation of 118 feet (36 m).

South Dos Palos is located near the southeastern border of Merced County at 36°57′52″N 120°39′12″W / 36.96444°N 120.65333°W / 36.96444; -120.65333.

California State Route 33 forms the eastern edge of the community, leading north and west 17 miles (27 km) to Los Banos and southeast 13 miles (21 km) to Firebaugh.

Merced, the county seat, is 29 miles (47 km) to the northeast via State Routes 33, 152, and 59.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the South Dos Palos CDP has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2), all of it land.

[4] It is home to Koda Farms, a Japanese rice company known for its historically innovative practices.

The 2010 United States Census[5] reported that South Dos Palos had a population of 1,620.

There were 488 housing units at an average density of 318.0 per square mile (122.8/km2), of which 242 (56.8%) were owner-occupied, and 184 (43.2%) were occupied by renters.

In the state legislature South Dos Palos is located in the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Anthony Cannella, and in the 17th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Cathleen Galgiani.