Maximize Vacation Days in 2026: Turn 11 Days PTO into 43 Days Vacation 🗓️

Still looking to maximize your vacation time this year (2025)? Here's a past article that will help.

Public Holidays List

Below, we've provided a list of national holidays and what day of the week they land on in 2026.

*Please note that the example dates below are based on the assumption that you work a Monday-to-Friday schedule.

First, let's review the National Public Holidays in the U.S. These will be integrated with the 11 days of PTO and weekends to optimize your vacation time.

• New Year's Day: Thursday, January 1st, 2026

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 19th, 2026

• Presidents' Day: Monday, February 16th, 2026

• Memorial Day: Monday, May 25th, 2026

• Juneteenth: Friday, June 19th, 2026

• Independence Day: Saturday, July 4th, 2026

• Labor Day: Monday, September 7th, 2026

• Indigenous Peoples' Day: Monday, October 12th, 2026

• Veteran's Day: Wednesday, November 11th, 2026

• Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26th, 2026

• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25th, 2026

Before we start, the months of March, April, and August do not have any national holidays and are, therefore, blackout months in relation to this article;

Turn 11 Days of Paid Time Off to 43 Days of Vacation

On average, Americans receive 11 days of paid time off, which doesn't leave a lot of time for planned adventures, especially for trips to far out places like Europe and Asia. Here's how you can turn just 11 days of annual leave into 43 days of vacation in 2026.

*Please note: this guide is suited best for those who work Monday's to Friday's.

Vacation Time in January

New Year's Day 2026 falls on Thursday, January 1st. We suggest requesting Friday the 2nd off and making it a four day weekend: Thursday, January 1st, to Sunday, January 4th, where you'll only need to take one day off. take one day off. Consider checking out the Idaho Potato Drop in Boise for NYE or maybe checking out another quirky festivity like Possum Drop in Tallapoosa, Georgia or the Pickle Drop in Mount Olive, North Carolina.

🗓️ Thursday, January 1st, to Sunday, January 4th

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: Four, 10 Left of Annual Leave

Even though you took time off at the beginning of the month for New Year's, we think you should also combine Martin Luther King Jr. Day which lands on Monday, January 19th with taking another day of PTO on Tuesday, January 20th. We recommend the following day of Tuesday rather than the Friday before as you'll find better hotel deals and travel options and less crowds.

🗓️ Saturday, January 17th, to Tuesday, January 20th.

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: Eight, Nine Left of Annual Leave

Looking for suggestions on where to travel in January?

Vacation Time in February

Valentine's Day lands on Saturday, February 14th this year and Presidents' Day is on Monday, February 16th which makes for the perfect long weekend. Why not take Tuesday, February 17th off creating a long weekend getaway. We'd recommend Friday the 13th, but maybe it's not the best idea given it's not the luckiest day of the year and we don't want any bad vibes while traveling. February is the perfect time to venture over to Europe and visit the 'City of Love' in Paris or the romantic streets of Venice.

🗓️ Saturday, February 14th, to Tuesday, February 17th

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: 12, Eight Left of Annual Leave

Looking for suggestions on where to travel in February?

Vacation Time in May

Since March and April are blackout months in relation to this article, we are now jumping forward to May. In may, Memorial Dayis falling on Monday, May 25th, making for the perfect opportunity to secure a four-day weekend getaway perhaps taking the following Tuesday, May 26th off to save on expensive Friday night accommodations. Consider exploring destinations like Banff, Canada where the weather is shifting towards summer, yet the crowds aren't crazy.

🗓️ Saturday, May 23rd to Tuesday, May 26th

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: 16, Seven Left of Annual Leave

Looking for suggestions on where to travel in May?

Vacation Time in June

Summer has finally arrived! In June, Juneteenth lands on Friday, June 19th next year, so, you're going to want to reserve the following Monday, June 22nd off, giving you a full four-day weekend. As the weather starts to heat up in the northern hemisphere, why not make a trip up to somewhere like Acadia National Park in Maine or Nova Scotia, Canada before the peak summer high prices hit.

🗓️ Friday, June 19th to Monday, June 22nd

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: 20, Six Left of Annual Leave

Looking for suggestions on where to travel in June?

Vacation Time in July

Unfortunately, Fourth of July lands on a Saturday this year, meaning no extra weekday off. However, we still can take the Friday, July 3rd off making it a three-day weekend. We recommend staying stateside during this time to really soak in the local festivities happening nationwide. There's really no bad place to be on 4th of July in America.

🗓️ Friday, July 3rd to Monday, July 6th

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: 23, Five Left of Annual Leave

Looking for suggestions on where to travel in July?

Vacation Time in September

Labor Day is happening on Monday, September 7th. Take the following day Tuesday, September 8th off and make it another four-day weekend. We recommend taking advantage of fair season all over the country, or planning an end-of-season trip to Pigeon Forge before theme parks like Dollywood, close for the season (prices will be cheaper than they are in peak summer).

🗓️ Saturday, September 5th to Tuesday, September 8th

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: 27, Four Left of Annual Leave

Looking for suggestions on where to travel in September?

Vacation Time in October

In October, we aren't going to use any of the annual leave days (PTO), instead, we'll have a three-day weekend in October with Monday, October 12th off. A 3-day weekend allows for the perfect weekend trip not too far from home.

🗓️ Saturday, October 10th to Monday, October 12th

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: 30, Four Left of Annual Leave

Looking for suggestions on where to travel in October?

Vacation Time in November

Veteran's Day is a public holiday on Wednesday, November 11th so, we are going to take Monday, November 9th and Tuesday, November 10th off and make it a five-day weekend. Five days offers enough time to fly out to Europe and experience European Christmas Markets, such as the ones in Munich, Vienna, or Budapest.

🗓️ Saturday, November 7th to Wednesday, November 11th

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: 35, Two Left of Annual Leave

Every year Thanksgiving is on the last Thursday of November landing on Thursday, November 26th next year. Take Friday, November 27th off as well and extend your vacation through the weekend, grabbing another four-day trip to spend with family. Or opt for an alternative foodie destination like Mexico City or Oaxaca.

🗓️ Thursday, November 26th to Sunday, November 29th

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: 39, One Left of Annual Leave

Looking for suggestions on where to travel in November?

Vacation Time in December

Now, comes the last month of the year where people gather over the holiday season to celebrate Christmas and other winter holidays. You have one last public holiday with Christmas Day falling on a Friday, December 25th. Take Thursday, December 24th (Christmas Eve) off as well and enjoy one last four-day weekend.

🗓️ Thursday, December 24th to Sunday, December 27th

✔️ Vacation Days Taken So Far: 43, Zero Left of Annual Leave

Looking for suggestions on where to travel in December?