We all wish we could vacation more and work less, whether you’ve got a mere two weeks of paid time off or lack the flexibility or support to actually use an unlimited policy. If you aren’t banking vacation days for extended travel next year, you can strategically schedule around recognized holidays to get a series of luxuriously long weekends. Here’s how to turn 12 days of PTO into maximum vacation time in 2025.
2025 federal holidays that make long weekends
There are 11 recognized federal holidays in 2025 that can easily be converted into long weekends—in some cases, full weeks—with just one or two days of PTO. While we’ve noted a lot of Fridays to request off when the following Monday is a holiday, you may consider taking Tuesday instead if everyone you work with is likely to be gone or working less on Friday (allowing you to potentially duck out early without sacrificing a vacation day).
Wednesday, Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day): Take off Jan. 2–3 for a five-day weekend. If you also have Dec. 31 off, take Monday, Dec. 30 for a full week of vacation.
Monday, Jan. 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day): Take off Friday, Jan. 17
Monday, Feb. 17 (President’s Day): Take off Friday, Feb. 14
Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day): Take off Friday, May 23
Thursday, June 19 (Juneteenth National Independence Day): Take off Friday, June 20
Friday, July 4 (Independence Day): Take off Thursday, July 3
Monday, Sept. 1 (Labor Day): Take off Friday, Aug. 29
Monday, Oct. 13 (Indigenous People’s Day): Take off Friday, Oct. 10
Tuesday, Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day): Take off Monday, Nov. 10
Thursday, Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving Day): Take off Friday, Nov. 28. If you already have this day off, request Wednesday, Nov. 26 to get a five day weekend.
Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): Take off Friday, Dec. 26. If you have Dec. 24 off as well, you get a five-day weekend. Or take off Dec. 22–24 and Dec. 26 to get a nine-day vacation with only four days of PTO.
Note that you probably aren’t the only person in your workplace who wants to take vacation around existing holidays, so be sure to request your PTO as early as possible to increase the chances of it getting approved.