Chinese traditional villages are rich in history, culture, and natural resources, embodying diverse and multifaceted values. However, due to the rapid development of the economy and urbanization, many villages face the risk of losing their architectural styles, traditional layouts, and cultural heritage. The government has initiated protective measures and implemented relevant policies. Although domestic studies predominantly focus on protection strategies, classification systems, and industrial development, they largely rely on micro-level case studies and fail to provide a thorough examination of regional disparities and tourism potential. This paper investigates 275 national-level traditional villages in Henan Province, analyzing their spatial configurations, distribution characteristics, and interactions with natural and social factors, while assessing their tourism potential through the potential evaluation model. The results reveal that Henan Province contains a considerable number of traditional villages, distinguished by high density and extensive distribution, forming a pattern of “three cores, numerous scattered points, and two regions”. Traditional villages situated in plain and hilly areas make up 71.64% of the total, those within 5 km of proximity to water sources constitute 42.18%, and the majority (91.64%) are positioned within 20 km from the main highway; The overall tourism development potential is high, with values ranging from 2.51–4.97, divided into four distinct levels. Among these, 92 villages are classified as possessing first-level potential, and 65 as having second-level potential. This study provides theoretical basis for the regional preservation and centralized contiguous protection of traditional villages in Henan Province, offering valuable insights for promoting their sustainable development.