Gulf is located on the southern border of Chatham County, on the north side of Deep River. The Cape Fear River forms at the confluence of the Deep and Haw rivers, approximately 20 miles downstream of Gulf. Gulf is 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Siler City and 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Sanford. Pittsboro, the Chatham County seat, is 17 miles (27 km) to the northeast via the Pittsboro-Goldston Road.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Gulf CDP has a total area of 0.92 square miles (2.39 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 1.18%, is water.[4]
Gulf is at the geographical center of North Carolina.