The red maple is most common on moist bottomland soils or in swamps along with other hardwoods such as cottonwoods, oaks, black ash, and black tupelo. It is also found on drier upland soils - occurring at altitudes of up to 6,000 feet. 

The red maple occurs throughout the entire east coast from extreme southeastern regions of Manitoba east to Newfoundland, south to southern Florida and west to eastern Texas.