The area code 573 is located in Columbia, Missouri.
Area code 573 serves Columbia, Missouri and a wide stretch of east-central and southeast Missouri. Centered in mid-Missouri along the Missouri River, this area code connects college life in Columbia with state government in nearby Jefferson City, plus river towns and rural communities that reach toward the Mississippi. It’s the primary code locals and businesses use for phone numbers in and around Columbia, home of the University of Missouri.
Major cities and landmarks covered by 573 include:
In service since 1996 after a split from 314. — North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA)
Established in 1996, 573 was created to handle growth outside the St. Louis region while keeping a single, recognizable code for much of central and southeast Missouri. The area code sits in the Central Time Zone and borders other Missouri area codes like 314, 636, 660, and 417. From state government in Jefferson City to outdoor travel at the Lake of the Ozarks and literary history in Hannibal, 573 ties together many of Missouri’s most recognized places. If a call shows a 573 phone number, it likely comes from mid-Missouri or the state’s southeast corridor, including Columbia and its neighboring communities.