The short answer
How many long weekends are in 2027?
10 three-day weekends on the US federal holiday calendar, with no vacation days needed. The longest break of the year: take December 27 to 31 off (5 PTO days) and get 10 days in a row (Fri, Dec 24 – Sun, Jan 2, 2028). If your employer gives December 31 off, as the federal government does, it takes only 4 PTO days.
2027 is a good year for time off. Five holidays land on a Monday and three on a Friday, and Christmas and New Year's Day 2028 both fall on Saturdays, which pushes their days off onto the Fridays before. Use the planner above to see the best breaks for the holidays your employer actually gives you.
2027 long weekends (no PTO needed)
Based on the US federal holiday calendar. Columbus Day and Juneteenth aren't observed by every private employer, so check your company's holiday list.
| Holiday | Long weekend | Length |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1 – Sun, Jan 3 | 3 days |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Sat, Jan 16 – Mon, Jan 18 | 3 days |
| Presidents Day | Sat, Feb 13 – Mon, Feb 15 | 3 days |
| Memorial Day | Sat, May 29 – Mon, May 31 | 3 days |
| Juneteenth (observed) | Fri, Jun 18 – Sun, Jun 20 | 3 days |
| Independence Day (observed) | Sat, Jul 3 – Mon, Jul 5 | 3 days |
| Labor Day | Sat, Sep 4 – Mon, Sep 6 | 3 days |
| Columbus Day | Sat, Oct 9 – Mon, Oct 11 | 3 days |
| Christmas (observed) | Fri, Dec 24 – Sun, Dec 26 | 3 days |
| New Year's Day 2028 (observed) | Fri, Dec 31 – Sun, Jan 2, 2028 | 3 days |
The New Year's Day 2028 weekend (Friday, December 31 to Sunday, January 2) applies to federal employees. Many private employers stay open on December 31.
Best ways to stretch each 2027 holiday
How many days in a row you get by adding 1 or 4 vacation days next to each federal holiday. Weekends count as days off; December 31 counts as a workday.
| Holiday | Add 1 PTO day | Add 4 PTO days |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day Fri, Jan 1 | 4 days off: Fri, Jan 1 – Mon, Jan 4 | 7 days off: Fri, Jan 1 – Thu, Jan 7 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day Mon, Jan 18 | 4 days off: Fri, Jan 15 – Mon, Jan 18 | 9 days off: Sat, Jan 16 – Sun, Jan 24 |
| Presidents Day Mon, Feb 15 | 4 days off: Fri, Feb 12 – Mon, Feb 15 | 9 days off: Sat, Feb 13 – Sun, Feb 21 |
| Memorial Day Mon, May 31 | 4 days off: Fri, May 28 – Mon, May 31 | 9 days off: Sat, May 29 – Sun, Jun 6 |
| Juneteenth (observed) Fri, Jun 18 | 4 days off: Thu, Jun 17 – Sun, Jun 20 | 9 days off: Sat, Jun 12 – Sun, Jun 20 |
| Independence Day (observed) Mon, Jul 5 | 4 days off: Fri, Jul 2 – Mon, Jul 5 | 9 days off: Sat, Jul 3 – Sun, Jul 11 |
| Labor Day Mon, Sep 6 | 4 days off: Fri, Sep 3 – Mon, Sep 6 | 9 days off: Sat, Sep 4 – Sun, Sep 12 |
| Columbus Day Mon, Oct 11 | 4 days off: Fri, Oct 8 – Mon, Oct 11 | 9 days off: Sat, Oct 9 – Sun, Oct 17 |
| Veterans Day Thu, Nov 11 | 4 days off: Thu, Nov 11 – Sun, Nov 14 | 9 days off: Sat, Nov 6 – Sun, Nov 14 |
| Thanksgiving Thu, Nov 25 | 4 days off: Thu, Nov 25 – Sun, Nov 28 | 9 days off: Sat, Nov 20 – Sun, Nov 28 |
| Christmas (observed) Fri, Dec 24 | 4 days off: Thu, Dec 23 – Sun, Dec 26 | 9 days off: Sat, Dec 18 – Sun, Dec 26 |
Two holidays fall on a Thursday in 2027: Veterans Day (November 11) and Thanksgiving (November 25). Taking the Friday after each turns them into four-day weekends for one PTO day. With 4 PTO days around Thanksgiving you get 9 days off (Sat, Nov 20 – Sun, Nov 28).
How to get the most from your PTO in 2027
Book the bridges early
The best breaks, around Thanksgiving, Christmas and July 4, are the ones your coworkers want too. Request them as soon as your employer opens 2027 PTO requests.
Check your real holiday list
Federal holidays aren't required for private employers. Many observe 6 to 10, often including the day after Thanksgiving and sometimes Good Friday (March 26, 2027). Tick yours in the planner.
Mind the carry-over rules
If unused PTO expires at year end, plan a December break. If it carries over, saving 4 or 5 days for the 10-day Christmas to New Year break is one of the best deals of the year.
Assumptions and limitations
Breaks assume a Monday to Friday schedule with weekends off. The planner picks breaks with the most days off per PTO day and avoids overlapping breaks. Your employer's holiday calendar, blackout dates and approval rules decide what you can actually take.
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends are in 2027?
10 three-day weekends on the US federal holiday calendar: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Christmas, and the New Year's Day 2028 weekend for federal employees.
When is the best time to take vacation in 2027?
Christmas to New Year. Take December 27 to 31 off (5 PTO days) and you get 10 days in a row, from Friday, December 24 to Sunday, January 2, 2028. If December 31 is a holiday for you, as it is for federal employees, you need only 4 PTO days.
Which 2027 holidays fall on a Friday?
New Year's Day (January 1), Juneteenth (observed Friday, June 18), Christmas (observed Friday, December 24) and New Year's Day 2028 (observed Friday, December 31 for federal employees).
Is July 4, 2027 a long weekend?
Yes. July 4 falls on a Sunday, so the holiday is observed on Monday, July 5, giving a three-day weekend from Saturday, July 3.
How do I get 9 days off with 4 PTO days in 2027?
Pick any Monday holiday, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day or Presidents Day, and take the Tuesday to Friday after it. With the weekend before, that is 9 days in a row.
Is Good Friday 2027 a holiday?
Good Friday is March 26, 2027. It isn't a federal holiday, but some employers, schools and the stock markets close. Tick it in the planner if your employer gives it.
Is the day after Thanksgiving 2027 a holiday?
Friday, November 26, 2027 isn't a federal holiday, but many private employers give it off. If yours does, Thanksgiving becomes a four-day weekend with no PTO.
Can I add my planned breaks to my calendar?
Yes. After running the planner, choose "Add breaks to my calendar" to download an .ics file for Google Calendar, Outlook or Apple Calendar.