Area Code 686: Virginia, Virginia
686 is a telephone area code serving Virginia. It is part of the North American Numbering Plan and is dialed with the country code +1.
Numbers beginning with 686 are located in Virginia, United States (NANP region: Central East).
How to Dial Area Code 686
| Calling from | What to dial |
|---|---|
| Anywhere in the US or Canada | 1 686 XXX-XXXX (10-digit dialing: 686 + 7-digit number) |
| Local call inside the same area code | 7-digit number in most areas; 10 digits where an overlay code is active |
| From the UK or Europe | 00 1 686 XXX XXXX |
| From Australia | 0011 1 686 XXX XXXX |
| From a mobile phone anywhere | +1 686 XXX XXXX |
Whatever country you are calling from, the + symbol replaces the exit code. Save the contact as +1 686 XXXXXXX and it will dial correctly from any phone in the world.
Time Zone for Area Code 686
Calls to a 686 number ring in the America/New_York time zone, standard offset UTC-05:00. Daylight saving time applies here, so the offset moves forward one hour from March to November.
Other Area Codes in Virginia
These codes also serve Virginia. Area codes are assigned by the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).
| Area Code | Cities / Coverage |
|---|---|
| 276 | Southwest VA |
| 434 | Charlottesville, Lynchburg |
| 540 | Roanoke, Fredericksburg |
| 571 | Northern VA (overlay) |
| 703 | Arlington, Alexandria |
| 757 | Norfolk, Virginia Beach |
| 804 | Richmond |
| 826 | Western Virginia (overlay for 540) |
| 948 | Richmond (overlay) |
See all 10 area codes in Virginia →
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is area code 686?
Area code 686 is in Virginia, United States. It covers Richmond (overlay for 804).
What time zone is area code 686 in?
Area code 686 rings in the America/New_York time zone (UTC-05:00 standard).
Do I need to dial 1 before area code 686?
Yes, for a long-distance call inside the US and Canada you dial 1 first, then 686, then the seven-digit number. The 1 is the North American long-distance trunk prefix — it is not the country code. From outside North America you dial your exit code then 1 then 686.
Is area code 686 toll-free?
No. 686 is a standard geographic area code, so normal long-distance rates apply unless your plan includes them. Toll-free NANP codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.