Area code 253 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). It is used in the state of Washington in the United States. It was established on April 27, 1997 as a split from area code 206. It covers the southern portion of the Puget Sound region, including cities like Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, Federal Way, Auburn, and parts of the Kitsap Peninsula. The area is known for its proximity to Seattle, the Puget Sound, and Mount Rainier.