The 301 area code
The 301 area code covers Bethesda, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg in Maryland, in the Eastern time zone. Here is which cities use it, the current local time, the codes it overlays, how 301 numbers are written, and how to get a local 301 number for your business.
301 covers Bethesda, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg in Maryland. It sits in the Eastern time zone, where it is currently 11:26 PM. It shares that ground with 227 and 240, so ten-digit dialling is required. Numbers are written as (301) XXX-XXXX.
Where is the 301 area code?
The 301 area code serves Bethesda, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg in Maryland. It is one of the active area codes in the North American Numbering Plan, the system that assigns phone numbers across the United States, Canada, and nearby regions. A caller seeing a 301 number knows, at a glance, that the line is tied to Maryland.
What cities use the 301 area code?
These are the places with numbering prefixes in 301, the ones with the most prefixes first:
Bethesda accounts for the largest share of 301 prefixes, with Silver Spring and Gaithersburg next. A local number in any of them reads as local to everyone else on the list, because they all dial on 301.
Which area codes overlay 301?
301 is part of an overlay complex with 227 and 240. An overlay puts more than one area code over the same geography instead of splitting the region in two, so existing numbers keep their code and new ones get the added code. Two neighbours on the same street can hold different area codes. That is why ten-digit dialling is required here: you cannot assume a local call shares your area code.
What time is it in the 301 area code?
The 301 area code is in the Eastern time zone. Right now it is about 11:26 PM there. If you are calling a 301 number, check the local time first so you reach someone during business hours. If you run a business on a 301 line, missing a call after hours means the caller moves on to the next name on their list.
How to write a 301 phone number
A full 301 number is ten digits: the three-digit area code, then a three-digit prefix, then a four-digit line number. It is usually written as (301) XXX-XXXX, or 301-XXX-XXXX. To dial it from outside the United States, add the country code: +1 301 XXX XXXX.
Area codes near 301
These area codes also serve Maryland:
Getting a local 301 number for your business
People are far more likely to answer a call from a local number. If you do business in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, a 301 number tells customers you are one of them, not an out-of-town call center. A virtual phone service can assign you a 301 number in minutes, no new hardware required.
The catch is answering it. A local number only helps if someone picks up. HiThisIs gives you a local number and a front desk that answers every call on the first ring, day or night, has a real conversation, and texts you the lead in seconds. It is a fraction of the cost of a human answering service, from $99 a month. See plans and pricing, or hear it answer on your own phone.
Common questions about the 301 area code
Where is the 301 area code?
The 301 area code covers Bethesda, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg in Maryland, in the Eastern time zone.
What cities use the 301 area code?
Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Frederick, Hagerstown, Laurel and Waldorf all have numbering prefixes in 301.
What time zone is the 301 area code in?
The 301 area code is in the Eastern time zone. The current local time there is 11:26 PM.
Does 301 overlay another area code?
Yes. 301 is part of an overlay complex with 227 and 240. An overlay puts more than one area code over the same geography, which is why ten-digit dialling is required there: two neighbours can hold different area codes on the same street.
Is 301 a real area code?
Yes. 301 is an active North American Numbering Plan area code serving Bethesda, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg in Maryland.
How do I get a 301 phone number for my business?
A virtual phone service can assign you a local 301 number so customers in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg see a familiar area code when you call, and so your business looks local. HiThisIs includes a local number with every plan and answers it around the clock.