McMaster campus, which is restricted to pedestrian traffic, is at the western end of Lake Ontario. Area attractions include Cootes Paradise, the Bruce Trail, the Niagara Escarpment, the Waterfront Trail, and the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The University is minutes from downtown Hamilton, Ontario, and the activities that a major city has to offer. Buses from the region's public transit system make frequent stops on campus, facilitating travelling between McMaster, Hamilton, and the surrounding area.

The campus has grown immensely since the University officially moved to Hamilton in 1930. The six buildings, all still in use, were added to over the years, and now there are 55 buildings on McMaster's campus and development shows no signs of slowing down.