681 Area Code
Covers Charleston and nearby communities in West Virginia.
(681) 555-0142Area code 681 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 681, centered on Charleston, West Virginia
38.4192, -82.4451
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 681 coverage map — centered on Charleston. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
681 is the area code for Charleston and the surrounding part of West Virginia. It reaches roughly 100,000 people across places such as Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg and more. The region observes Eastern time, so a number like (681) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. On the ground it spans Kanawha, Cabell, Monongalia and nearby counties. It shares its territory with the overlay code 304, which sit on the exact same map. Because the 681 region uses more than one area code, you must dial all ten digits — area code included — even for a local call. You do not, however, need to dial a leading 1 for calls within the US and Canada. On this page you'll find a live local clock for Charleston, an interactive coverage map, the cities and counties 681 serves, its overlay and neighboring codes, and tips on spotting 681 spam calls.
Cities covered by 681
Cities & neighborhoods
- Charleston
- Huntington
- Morgantown
- Parkersburg
- South Charleston
- Weirton
- Wheeling
Counties
- Kanawha
- Cabell
- Monongalia
- Wood
- Hancock
- Ohio
Looking for the broader picture? See all West Virginia area codes.
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 681’s geography — a number in either code can be on the same street.
Neighboring codes
Codes for adjacent regions and metros.
Is a call from 681 a scam?
Area code 681 serves Charleston and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 681 numbers, frequently by spoofing a local-looking caller ID to boost pickup rates. The area code itself tells you nothing about who is really calling, so judge the call by what's said, not the number.
Red flags to watch for
- Pressure to act right now, or threats of arrest, fines, or service being cut off.
- Requests to pay with gift cards, wire transfer, crypto, or a payment app.
- Asking for passwords, one-time codes, your SSN, or full card/bank numbers.
- A robocall or recording, or a number that won’t let you call back.
When unsure, hang up and call the organization back on a number you look up yourself.
Calling a 681 number from abroad
Every 681 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 681 555-0142If your phone can’t dial the +, replace it with your country’s exit code, then 1, then the number:
- UK, Germany, France & most of Europe
00 1 681 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 681 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 681 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 681 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 681 555-0142.
Reverse phone lookup
Check any US or Canada number to see whether it's a working line, which carrier it sits on, whether it's mobile, landline or VoIP, and roughly where it's registered.
Shows carrier, line type and location. Owner name isn't available here.
Results are for personal, informational use only and may not be used for employment, credit, housing or tenant-screening decisions.
Area code 681: frequently asked questions
Where is the 681 area code located?
The 681 area code is located in West Virginia, centered on Charleston. It covers Kanawha, Cabell, Monongalia, Wood, Hancock, Ohio and nearby communities including Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, South Charleston, Weirton.
What time zone is 681 in?
Area code 681 is in the Eastern time zone (UTC-5 (EST) / UTC-4 (EDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Charleston on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 681?
Cities and areas that use 681 include Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, South Charleston, Weirton. Its primary city is Charleston, WV.
Do I need to dial 1 before 681?
For calls within the US, you do not need to dial a leading 1, but you do need all ten digits: 681 plus the seven-digit number. The 681 area requires ten-digit dialing because more than one area code serves it.
Is 681 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 681 is a normal geographic area code for Charleston, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 681 number is not inherently a scam, but the code can be spoofed. See the spam-call section above for how to tell.
What are the overlay area codes for 681?
Area code 681 is overlaid by 304, meaning those codes cover the same geographic area.