What Is Area Code 301? (Silver Spring, Maryland)

Area code 301 covers Silver Spring and surrounding areas in Maryland. It is one of the original 86 area codes established by AT&T in 1947. Today it shares its territory with overlay codes 240 and 227. For the full picture, see all Maryland area codes.

Quick Facts: Area Code 301

State	Maryland
Primary city	Silver Spring
Cities also served	Silver Spring, Rockville, Germantown, Bethesda, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Waldorf, Hagerstown
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST)
Year established	January 1, 1947
Original 1947 NPA?	Yes
Overlay codes	240, 227
Currently in use?	Yes, actively assigned
Ten-digit dialing required?	Yes

Cities Served by Area Code 301

Area code 301 serves Western and southern Maryland, including the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. — covering Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick, Charles, St. Mary's, Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties, plus portions of Anne Arundel, Carroll, and Howard counties, including the following cities and communities:

• Silver Spring
• Rockville
• Germantown
• Bethesda
• Frederick
• Gaithersburg
• Waldorf
• Hagerstown

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 240, 227, 410, 443, 667.

How to Get a 301 Phone Number

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 301 area code, each suited to a different need:

1. Buy from a premium-number specialist. Companies that hold curated inventories of specific area codes can sell you a 301 number directly, often with a one-time fee and ownership transferred to you (no recurring carrier fees). This is the option for picking a specific memorable number, or for getting an area code that most carriers won’t let you request. Browse our 301 inventory.
2. Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 301 number on request, especially for active overlay codes. You won’t usually get to pick the specific number, but you’ll get a working line in the area code. This is the cheapest option for anyone who doesn’t need a particular number.
3. Port an existing 301 number. If you already have a 301 phone number with another carrier, you can transfer it (port it) to a new service provider while keeping the number. This works for landlines, cell phones, and VoIP services, though landlines outside of Maryland sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 301 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

Looking for a 301 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 301 numbers for Silver Spring, Maryland — choose your number, port it to any carrier in 3–5 business days, and pay a one-time fee with no monthly charges. Browse available 301 numbers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 301 area code still in use?
Yes. 301 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Western and southern Maryland, including the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. — covering Montgomery, Prince George’s, Frederick, Charles, St. Mary’s, Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties, plus portions of Anne Arundel, Carroll, and Howard counties.

What is the difference between 301 and 240?
Today they share the same geographic territory in Maryland. New phone lines in the area may be assigned either code. The two codes work identically for calling, billing, and service.

Can I get a 301 number if I don't live in Maryland?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 301 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 301 a scam area code?
No. 301 is a legitimate, active area code for Western and southern Maryland, including the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. — covering Montgomery, Prince George’s, Frederick, Charles, St. Mary’s, Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties, plus portions of Anne Arundel, Carroll, and Howard counties. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 301 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real Maryland businesses, government offices, and residents.

What cities does the 301 area code cover?
Area code 301 covers western and southern Maryland, including Silver Spring, Rockville, Germantown, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Frederick, Waldorf, and Hagerstown, among many other communities.

Does 301 share its territory with any other area codes?
Yes. Area code 240 was added as an overlay on June 1, 1997, and area code 227 was added as a second overlay on June 14, 2023. All three codes — 301, 240, and 227 — serve the same geographic area simultaneously. Ten-digit dialing is required for all local calls.

Why did the 301 area code keep the Washington, D.C. suburbs instead of Baltimore when the 1991 split happened?
Typically the largest city retains the original code, but Bell Atlantic made an exception: it left the western half of Maryland in 301 to spare the large number of federal agencies on the Maryland side of the D.C. metro area from having to change their numbers.

Is 301 one of the original area codes?
Yes. Area code 301 was established in 1947 as one of the original North American Numbering Plan codes, and it originally served the entire state of Maryland.

Related Reading

• When Did We Start Using Area Codes?
• How Many Area Codes Are In the US?
• Who Invented Area Codes?
• Why Use Area Codes For Local Calls?

Browse every active US area code in one place.