The LSA encompasses the Port Augusta, Flinders Ranges and Northern Outback areas of South Australia. The major 24 hour patrol base is located in Port Augusta while other regional headquarters are located at Leigh Creek, Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy and Marla. There are smaller stations located at Oodnadatta, Woomera, Andamooka, Marree, Hawker, Quorn, Cockburn, Yunta and Mannahill. There are also patrol bases located on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands at Amata, Ernabella, Mimili, Murputja and Umuwa.

The LSA covers approximately 670,000 square kilometres of northern South Australia, about 73% of the area of the State. It shares borders with Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.

The headquarters of the Far North LSA is located at the Port Augusta Complex, 106 Commercial Road, Port Augusta. Services provided from this station include Criminal Justice, Crime Scene, Crime Prevention, Intelligence, Criminal Investigation and Highway Patrol.

The main tourism attractions in the LSA include the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, the Flinders Ranges including Wilpena Pound and Arkaroola and outback areas such as Lake Eyre, the Simpson Desert and the Strzelecki and Birdsville Tracks.

The LSA has seen an increase in mining activity with several major mining projects planned or already underway such as the Prominent Hill gold mine south of Coober Pedy, or the Olympic Dam mine expansion in Roxby Downs. These mining projects are expected to result in significant increases in population throughout the major centres in the LSA.

The LSA incorporates the local government areas of Port Augusta, Flinders Rangers, Roxby Downs and Coober Pedy. The majority of the LSA is covered by the Outback Communities Authority.