Arkansas has 4 active area codes as of 2026, covering the state through a mix of original 1947 assignments, geographic splits, and modern overlays. This guide walks through the full list, which regions each code serves, the order they came online, and where new codes are most likely to land next.
The Short Answer
Arkansas currently has 4 active area codes in service. The count reflects a combination of population growth, the rise of mobile lines, and the way modern numbering allocates blocks — every line activated, whether a cellphone, a business desk line, a VoIP number, or a connected device, consumes a slot in the pool.
By population, Arkansas ranks #33 nationally with roughly 3,096,080 residents as of the most recent estimates. That puts the state’s area code count in line with its population peers — denser, faster-growing states need more codes; smaller states need fewer.
The Full List of Arkansas Area Codes
The active area codes serving Arkansas are listed below, in numerical order. Where a code is an overlay or a split-off from an earlier code, that relationship is noted.
- 327 — Eastern, southern, and most of northern Arkansas (overlay of 870)
- 479 — Northwest Arkansas (Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale)
- 501 — Little Rock and central Arkansas
- 870 — Eastern, southern, and most of northern Arkansas (Jonesboro, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, Mountain Home)
How Arkansas’s Area Codes Grew Over Time
Arkansas received its first area code, 501, when the North American Numbering Plan launched in 1947. That single code initially covered the entire state, and subsequent splits and overlays narrowed it over the decades that followed.
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Browse Arkansas Area Codes →- 1947 — 501 assigned as Arkansas's sole area code at the launch of the North American Numbering Plan, covering the entire state.
- 1997 — 870 created on April 14, 1997, in a split from 501 to serve eastern, southern, and most of northern Arkansas, leaving 501 for the Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Northwest Arkansas areas.
- 2002 — 479 split off from 501 in January 2002 to serve Northwest Arkansas, including Fort Smith and Fayetteville.
- 2024 — 327 activated on February 20, 2024, as an all-service overlay of 870, the first overlay in Arkansas. An overlay was first approved in December 2009 but suspended in 2012 before being revived for the 2024 in-service date.
Arkansas Area Codes by Region
Central Arkansas (501): Little Rock and the surrounding central counties, including Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline, and Garland. 501 is the state's original 1947 area code and remains a single-code region.
Northwest Arkansas (479): Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers, and Springdale across thirteen counties. Split off from 501 in 2002.
Eastern, southern, and northern Arkansas (870, 327): Jonesboro, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, El Dorado, Mountain Home, and West Memphis. 870 split off from 501 in 1997; 327 was added as an overlay in 2024.
What’s Next for Arkansas Area Codes
A 2021 NPA exhaust study by NANPA projected that 870 would run out of available numbers in the first quarter of 2025, which prompted the long-delayed activation of the 327 overlay in February 2024. With 327 now sharing the 870 geography, the numbering pool for eastern, southern, and northern Arkansas has substantial additional runway. NANPA’s recent exhaust projections show no Arkansas numbering plan area on the near-term relief schedule, and the 501 and 479 areas are not projected to need additional codes in the immediate future.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many area codes does Arkansas have right now?
Arkansas has 4 active area codes in service across the territory it covers, including any overlays that share geography with an older code.
What is the oldest area code in Arkansas?
501 is the oldest active area code in Arkansas, assigned in 1947 when the North American Numbering Plan launched. It remains in service today, though its geographic footprint has typically been reduced by subsequent splits and overlays.
What is the newest area code in Arkansas?
The most recent area code addition to Arkansas was 327, activated in 2024. New phone lines provisioned in its service area are increasingly drawn from this code as older overlays approach exhaustion.
Why does Arkansas need so many area codes?
Population growth combined with the proliferation of mobile lines, business direct-dial numbers, VoIP services, and connected devices has exhausted older codes faster than the original 1947 plan anticipated. Each new area code adds roughly 7.9 million additional phone numbers to the regional pool.
How many area codes does Arkansas have?
Arkansas has 4 active area codes as of 2026: 501, 870, 479, and 327. The state used a single area code (501) from 1947 until 1997, and the most recent addition was the 327 overlay in February 2024.
What area code is Little Rock?
Little Rock and central Arkansas use area code 501, the state’s original area code dating to 1947. Unlike the 870 region, 501 has no overlay and remains a single-code area, though 10-digit dialing is required statewide.
Is 327 a real Arkansas area code?
Yes. 327 is a valid area code that went into service on February 20, 2024 as an overlay of 870, covering the same eastern, southern, and northern Arkansas region. New phone lines in that area may be assigned a 327 number, and calls require 10-digit dialing.
What area code covers Northwest Arkansas?
Northwest Arkansas, including Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers, and Springdale, uses area code 479. It split off from 501 in January 2002 and serves thirteen counties in the northwestern corner of the state.
Ready to Get a Number in Arkansas?
We carry available Arkansas numbers right now across multiple area codes. Order directly in 327, 479, 501, or 870 — a one-time fee, no monthly charges, with pricing From $150 depending on the digit pattern and memorability of the number. Prefer help choosing? Call us at (212) 580-2000.
