Area code 540 covers western and northwestern Virginia, including Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg, and Fredericksburg. Learn about coverage, time zone, and how to get a local 540 number.
Area code 540 serves western and northwestern Virginia, covering the Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Mountains, and New River Valley regions. If you need a local presence in this area, you can get a 540 phone number through Telnyx.
The 540 area code covers a large portion of Virginia west of the Washington D.C. suburbs, including major cities, college towns, and scenic mountain communities.
| City | County/Region | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke |
Related articles
| Roanoke |
| ~100,000 |
| Largest city, regional hub |
| Fredericksburg | Fredericksburg | ~29,000 | Historic city, DC commuter area |
| Harrisonburg | Harrisonburg | ~54,000 | James Madison University |
| Blacksburg | Montgomery | ~45,000 | Virginia Tech |
| Winchester | Winchester | ~28,000 | Northern Shenandoah Valley |
| Christiansburg | Montgomery | ~22,000 | New River Valley |
| Staunton | Staunton | ~25,000 | Central Shenandoah Valley |
| Culpeper | Culpeper | ~20,000 | Piedmont region |
| Salem | Salem | ~26,000 | Roanoke College |
| Lexington | Lexington | ~7,500 | VMI and Washington & Lee |
The region spans the Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Mountains, Alleghany Highlands, and parts of Northern Virginia. For complete coverage details, see the NANPA area code map.
Area code 540 is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET). During standard time, this is UTC-5 (EST). During daylight saving time, it shifts to UTC-4 (EDT).
The 540 area code was created in 1995 when it split from the 703 area code, which now serves only Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria). The split was necessary as the Washington D.C. suburbs experienced rapid population growth.
In 2022, the 826 area code was added as an overlay to the same geographic region. Both 540 and 826 now serve the same area, so new phone lines may be assigned either area code. This means 10-digit dialing (area code + number) is required for all local calls. For regulatory details, visit the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Western Virginia has a diverse economy driven by education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism:
Higher Education
Healthcare
Manufacturing & Technology
Agriculture & Tourism
A local 540 number helps businesses build trust with customers in this region. Calls from local area codes have higher answer rates than unfamiliar or toll-free numbers.
Telnyx offers local phone numbers in the 540 area code. You get:
Browse available 540 numbers or contact sales to discuss your needs.
| Area Code | Region | Major City | Relationship to 540 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 826 | Western Virginia | Roanoke | Overlay (same area) |
| 703/571 | Northern Virginia | Arlington | East (540 split from 703 in 1995) |
| 804 | Central Virginia | Richmond | Southeast |
| 434 | Central/Southern Virginia | Charlottesville | South |
| 276 | Southwest Virginia | Bristol | Southwest |
| 304/681 | West Virginia | Charleston | West (across state line) |
What area code is 540? Area code 540 serves western and northwestern Virginia, including Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg, Fredericksburg, and Winchester.
What time zone is 540? Eastern Time (ET) — UTC-5 standard, UTC-4 during daylight saving.
Is 540 the same as 826? Yes, 826 is an overlay that covers the same geographic area as 540. Both area codes serve western Virginia.
Do I need to dial the area code for local calls? Yes. Since the 826 overlay was introduced in 2022, all calls require 10-digit dialing (area code + 7-digit number).
