What is 401 area code?

The 401 area code is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) that covers the state of Rhode Island, as well as parts of southeastern Massachusetts. It was one of the original area codes established in 1947, along with the rest of the NANP.

The 401 area code is unique in that it covers an entire state, unlike many other area codes which cover specific regions within a state. It serves cities such as Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, and Newport in Rhode Island, as well as Fall River and New Bedford in Massachusetts.

The 401 area code is bordered by the 508 area code to the north and east, the 774 area code to the west, and the 860 and 860 area codes to the south.

In recent years, the 401 area code has experienced a shortage of available telephone numbers due to increased demand for new phone lines and services. As a result, an overlay area code, 782, was introduced in 2017 to provide additional numbering resources for the region.