How to Maximize PTO in 2026: A Strategic Guide to Traveling Over Long Weekends
As we kick off the new year, it’s time to strategically plan your paid time off (PTO) around the U.S. federal holiday calendar. With just a handful of vacation days and smart scheduling, you can turn ordinary weekends into extended breaks, potentially squeezing dozens of extra days off out of your annual leave.
In this guide, we break down how to plan your PTO to maximize long weekends and vacations so you can plan your 2026 vacations accordingly.
2026 Federal Holidays: The Basics
In 2026, the U.S. observes 11 federal holidays, many of which naturally lend themselves to long weekends because they land on Mondays or Fridays. Here’s the official schedule:
New Year’s Day — Thursday, January 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, January 19
Presidents’ Day — Monday, February 16 *This is also Valentine’s Day weekend!
Memorial Day — Monday, May 25
Juneteenth — Friday, June 19
Independence Day (Observed) — Friday, July 3 (since July 4 falls on Saturday)
Labor Day — Monday, September 7
Indigenous Peoples’ Day — Monday, October 12
Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11
Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 26
Christmas Day — Friday, December 25
How to Turn PTO Into Long Vacations
Here’s how you can leverage federal holidays and weekends to get the most out of your time off:
MLK Jr. Day (Jan. 17-20 – 4 day trip / 1 day PTO)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 19): As a Monday holiday, pairing it with Friday, Jan. 16 or Tuesday, Jan. 20 to give yourself a 4- or 5-day break with only 1 or 2 days of PTO.
Presidents’ Day Weekend (Feb. 13-16 – 4 day trip, 1 day PTO)
Presidents’ Day (Feb. 16): Take Friday, Feb. 13 or Tuesday, Feb. 17 off to squeeze out a 4-day weekend, perfect for a Valentine’s Day trip!
Memorial Day (May 22-26 – 5 day trip, 2 days PTO)
Memorial Day (May 25): Add Friday, May 22 or Tuesday, May 26, and to kick off your summer with a 5-day getaway.
Juneteenth (June 19-22 – 4 day trip, 1 day PTO)
Juneteenth (June 19): Since Juneteenth falls on a Friday, simply take Monday, June 22 off to enjoy a 4-day weekend.
July 4th (July 3-6 – 3 day trip, 0 days PTO!)
Independence Day (Observed on July 3): Falls on a Friday, giving you a built-in long weekend, no PTO needed! It’s the perfect opportunity for a summer road trip.
Labor Day (Sept. 5-8, 4 day trip, 1 day PTO)
Labor Day (Sept. 7): Take Tuesday, Sept. 8 to make the weekend even longer!
Indigenous Peoples Day (Oct. 9-12, 4 day trip, 1 day PTO)
Indigenous Peoples Day (Oct. 12): The holiday falls on a Monday, so take off one additional day and make it a long weekend perfect for leaf peeping!
Veteran’s Day (Nov. 7-11, 5 day trip, 2 days PTO)
Veterans Day (Nov. 11): Landing mid-week, you can take Mon–Tue or Thu–Fri off to make a 5-day getaway! The best part? When you come back, you’ll only have a 2-day workweek.
Thanksgiving (Nov. 26-29, 4 day trip, 1 day PTO)
Thanksgiving (Nov. 26): Take Friday, Nov. 27 off to make the Thanksgiving holiday last a little bit longer!
Christmas - New Years (Dec. 24-Jan. 3, 11 day trip, 3 days PTO)
Take a true winter break by taking off starting on Thursday, December 24th, and returning on Sunday, January 3rd. You’ll only need to use PTO on December 28-30th, making it an easy way to squeeze more out of your time off!
Pro Tips for PTO Mastery
Use Long Weekends for Quick Trips: Not every vacation needs to be a two-week slog; three- or four-day breaks can recharge you just as well.
Track Your Leave: Create a PTO calendar at the start of the year so you can see all opportunities at a glance.
Plan Ahead: Many of these long weekends are popular travel dates, so we recommend booking your trip well in advance before flights and hotels start to fill up!
Whether you’re planning epic travel adventures or simply craving more downtime, a little foresight goes a long way. Start mapping out your PTO now and make 2026 a year of unforgettable experiences! ✈️🌴
