The area south of the Rhön proper is known as the southern Rhön. It extends south of the Hohe and Kuppen Rhön to Gemünden am Main. In the west, the area is separated from the Spessart by the Sinn. From the Grabfeld, the border is defined to the east by the Franconian Saale.

The southern Rhön is characterized by sandstone and shell limestone soils. The average altitude drops from around 400 to 500 meters above sea level (sometimes higher in the north) to between 160m and 250m in the south along the Main and Franconian Saale rivers. The Saale itself flows through several low-lying valleys near Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Bad Bocklet and Hammelburg.

The climate in the Südrhön is significantly warmer than in the Hohe Rhön, although it is still considered to be damp and cool. The area, especially near the Hohe Rhön and the Kuppenrhön, is considered to be heavily forested.