The 662 area code serves northern Mississippi, including the Memphis suburbs of DeSoto County, the city of Tupelo, and the Mississippi Delta. Created in 1999 when it split from 601, 662 covers the entire northern third of the state.
Quick Summary of the 662 Area Code
| Area Code | 662 |
| State | Mississippi (MS) |
| Region | Northern Mississippi (Tupelo, Southaven & the Delta) |
| Major Cities | Southaven, Tupelo, Olive Branch, Columbus, Greenville, Starkville, Oxford, Clarksdale |
| Time Zone | Central Time (CT) – CST / CDT |
| Dialing Format | 7 or 10-digit dialing |
Geographic Coverage
The 662 area code covers northern Mississippi, including the fast-growing Memphis suburbs of Southaven and Olive Branch in DeSoto County, the northeastern hub of Tupelo, the university towns of Oxford and Starkville, the eastern city of Columbus, and the Delta cities of Greenville and Clarksdale along the Mississippi River. It borders Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama.
Time Zone
The 662 area code observes Central Time (CT). Clocks follow Central Standard Time (UTC−6) in winter and shift to Central Daylight Time (UTC−5) from mid-March through early November. All of Mississippi is on Central Time. From the West Coast, this region is two hours ahead of Pacific Time, so a 9:00 AM call in California reaches a 662 number at 11:00 AM local time.
Tip: Business hours across the 662 region generally run 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday.
How to Dial a 662 Number
Area code 662 is not part of an overlay, so it has traditionally allowed 7-digit local dialing. However, 10-digit dialing is now the recommended nationwide standard, and dialing the full 10-digit number (662 + the line number) always works reliably. For international callers, dial your country’s exit code, then +1 (the North American country code), then 662, followed by the seven-digit local number.
Scam Alerts for the 662 Area Code
Like every U.S. area code, 662 has been used by scammers who spoof local numbers to appear trustworthy. Residents in Southaven, Tupelo, Olive Branch, Columbus, Greenville, Starkville, Oxford, Clarksdale should stay alert to the following common tactics:
| Scam Type | What to Watch For |
|---|---|
| IRS / Tax Scams | Callers impersonating the IRS and threatening arrest over supposed unpaid taxes. |
| Utility Shut-off | Fake utility callers demanding instant payment to keep your power on. |
| Student Loan Scam | Calls offering fake loan forgiveness to Ole Miss and Mississippi State students for a fee. |
| Farm / Equipment Scam | Fraudulent online listings for tractors or farm equipment aimed at Delta and rural buyers. |
If you receive a suspicious call from a 662 number, take these steps to protect yourself:
- Do not share personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank details, or passwords over the phone.
- Hang up and verify by calling the organization back using an official number from its website.
- Report the call to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
- Block the number and consider registering with the National Do Not Call Registry.
Red Flag: Legitimate agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration, or your local utility company (Entergy Mississippi or Mississippi Power) will never demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Any 662 caller making such a demand is a scammer.
History and Economy of the 662 Region
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Area code 662 was created in 1999, split from 601, to serve northern Mississippi. The regional economy is diverse. DeSoto County has boomed as a suburban and logistics extension of Memphis, Tupelo – the birthplace of Elvis Presley – is a major furniture-manufacturing center and the commercial hub of the northeast, and Columbus adds steel production and Columbus Air Force Base. Oxford is home to the University of Mississippi and a celebrated literary heritage tied to William Faulkner, Starkville hosts Mississippi State University, and the Mississippi Delta around Greenville and Clarksdale is a legendary birthplace of blues music with an economy rooted in cotton, catfish, and agriculture.
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Looking Up a 662 Number
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To identify a 662 caller, use a reverse phone lookup or search the full 10-digit number online. Businesses, universities, and government offices across northern Mississippi publish their 662 numbers, so a legitimate caller is often easy to confirm with a quick search. For unknown numbers, let the call go to voicemail – genuine callers usually leave a detailed voicemail message, while robocallers and automated scam calls almost never bother to do so.
Nearby & Related Area Codes
Mississippi is served by four area codes. If you are researching 662, these neighboring and overlay codes are worth knowing:
- 601 – Central & Southern MS / Jackson Metro
- 769 – Central & Southern MS overlay
- 228 – Mississippi Gulf Coast / Biloxi & Gulfport
You can also browse our full directory of Mississippi area codes for more regional guides.
↑ See the complete list of All US Area Codes by State – every area code across all 50 states in one directory.
Explore Neighboring States
Researching area codes just across the state line? Start with these codes in the states that border Mississippi:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the 662 area code located?
The 662 area code covers northern Mississippi, including Southaven, Tupelo, Olive Branch, Columbus, Greenville, Starkville, Oxford, and Clarksdale.
Does 662 have an overlay?
No. The 662 area code covers northern Mississippi on its own and currently has no overlay code.
Do I need to dial 10 digits for 662?
Because 662 has no overlay, 7-digit local dialing has historically worked, but dialing the full 10 digits is now the recommended standard and always works.
What time zone is the 662 area code in?
The 662 area code observes Central Time (CST/CDT), like all of Mississippi.
Related 662 Guides
- Is a 662 call safe? Read Is area code 662 a scam? Spam & safety guide.
- Local coverage: see the Tupelo area code guide.
- Worried about spam or robocalls? Browse our Scam Alerts directory.