The administrative community of Mellingen was founded on 29.04.1991 and consists of 16 municipalities and the town of Magdala. It covers an area of 11384 ha (113.84 km²) and has over 8,000 inhabitants. It is located in Weimarer Land in Thuringia, south-east of Weimar and west of Jena.

Its municipalities are Buchfart, Döbritschen, Frankendorf, Großschwabhausen, Hammerstedt, Hetschburg, Kapellendorf, Kiliansroda, Kleinschwabhausen, Lehnstedt, Mechelroda, Mellingen, Oettern, Umpferstedt, Vollersroda and Wiegendorf.

The Ilmtal cycle path, the Feininger cycle path and the Thüringer Städtekette long-distance cycle path pass through the administrative community.