You’ve got your PTO balance open in one tab and a calendar in another, and you’re trying to figure out which weekends in 2027 are actually worth planning around. The good news is that 2027 has 11 federal holidays, and most of them fall on Mondays, which means easy three-day weekends.
This guide lists every date on the US public holidays 2027 calendar, and pairs each long weekend with a trip idea. If you’re sketching out trips across the United States, the table below is your starting point.
Federal holidays 2027 at a glance
This is the full list of federal holidays 2027, with the observed date (the day federal offices actually close) and the long weekend each one creates.
Holiday | Date | Day | Observed date | Long weekend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
New Year’s Day | Jan 1 | Friday | Fri, Jan 1 | Jan 1–3 |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Jan 18 | Monday | Mon, Jan 18 | Jan 16–18 |
Presidents’ Day | Feb 15 | Monday | Mon, Feb 15 | Feb 13–15 |
Memorial Day | May 31 | Monday | Mon, May 31 | May 29–31 |
Juneteenth | Jun 19 | Saturday | Fri, Jun 18 | Jun 18–20 |
Independence Day | Jul 4 | Sunday | Mon, Jul 5 | Jul 3–5 |
Labor Day | Sep 6 | Monday | Mon, Sep 6 | Sep 4–6 |
Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples’ Day in many places) | Oct 11 | Monday | Mon, Oct 11 | Oct 9–11 |
Veterans Day | Nov 11 | Thursday | Thu, Nov 11 | None unless you take Friday off |
Thanksgiving | Nov 25 | Thursday | Thu, Nov 25 | Nov 25–28 if you have Friday off |
Christmas Day | Dec 25 | Saturday | Fri, Dec 24 | Dec 24–26 |
The 2027 public holiday quirks to know before you book
Fourth of July | Image Credit: Steve DiMatteo via Unsplash
Not every date on the list lands where you’d expect. Four dates move around, so here’s what changes in the federal holidays 2027 calendar.
- Juneteenth: It falls on Saturday, Jun 19, so federal offices observe it on Friday, Jun 18. That gives you a Jun 18–20 weekend.
- Fourth of July 2027: It lands on a Sunday, so the observed day is Monday, Jul 5. Most fireworks shows still happen on the 4th, and you get a full Jul 3–5 weekend.
- Christmas: Dec 25 is a Saturday, so the observed day is Friday, Dec 24.
- New Year’s Day 2028: Jan 1, 2028 is a Saturday, so it’s observed on Friday, Dec 31, 2027.
The year-end shift is the one to watch. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve both land on observed Fridays, which hands you two long weekends back to back.
Long weekends 2027: dates and getaway ideas
Christmas at Rockefeller Center | Image Credit: Elias Andres-Jose via Unsplash
Most of the long weekends 2027 offers are Monday holidays, which means three days off with just one trip to plan. Here’s the full lineup with a quick idea for each. The next section covers prices and booking.
- Jan 16–18 (MLK Day): A ski weekend in Colorado or Lake Tahoe.
- Feb 13–15 (Presidents’ Day): A winter museum-and-Broadway break in New York.
- May 29–31 (Memorial Day): A beach-season opener on the Carolina coast.
- Jun 18–20 (Juneteenth): A city weekend with a sunset harbor cruise.
- Jul 3–5 (Independence Day): Fireworks in Washington DC.
- Sep 4–6 (Labor Day): One last lake or beach weekend.
- Oct 9–11 (Columbus Day): A fall foliage road trip.
- Nov 25–28 (Thanksgiving): A four-day family trip, if you have Friday off.
- Dec 24–26 (Christmas): Holiday lights in New York or DC.
- Dec 31–Jan 2 (New Year’s Eve): The ball drop in Times Square.
Travel tips for each holiday
Each holiday has its own crowd pattern, so here’s what to expect, when to book and where to go.
MLK Day weekend (Jan 16–18)
Ski towns don’t slow down in January. Lodging in Colorado, Utah and Lake Tahoe fills up fast over MLK weekend, so book 2 to 3 months ahead. City hotels are usually quieter and cheaper this time of year, which makes a museum weekend in Chicago or Boston an easy win.
Presidents’ Day weekend 2027 (Feb 13–15)
Valentine’s Day lands on Sunday, Feb 14, smack in the middle of Presidents’ Day weekend 2027. Expect couples’ getaways to push hotel rates up in cities and warm-weather spots, and some schools take a winter break that week too. Book 6 to 8 weeks ahead for city trips and earlier for ski resorts.
If you’re headed to New York, the New York CityPASS lets you pick a pass for multiple top attractions, including observation decks, and it’s valid for 30 days after first use. The catch is that you choose your number up front, so list your must-dos before you buy.
Memorial Day weekend 2027 (May 29–31)
Memorial Day weekend 2027 is the unofficial start of beach season, and hotel prices act like it. Coastal towns such as the Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach and the Jersey Shore sell out early, so book by early spring. Highways pack up on Friday afternoon and Monday evening, so leave early or head home Tuesday if you can.
Need help picking a coast? Our list of beach destinations in the USA is a good place to start.
Juneteenth weekend (Jun 18–20)
Juneteenth sits between the Memorial Day rush and the July 4 crush, so it tends to be an easier summer weekend to book. Since the observed day is Friday, Jun 18, you get a clean Jun 18–20 break. In New York, the Harbor Lights Cruise runs two hours at dusk for $55, passing the Statue of Liberty and going under the Brooklyn Bridge. Get there early, because outdoor seats go first and the boat gets crowded.
Fourth of July 2027 (Jul 3–5)
Fourth of July 2027 falls on a Sunday, so the observed day is Monday, Jul 5, and you get a full Jul 3–5 weekend. It’s one of the priciest weekends of the summer, with the heaviest traffic on Friday afternoon and Monday evening. Book flights and hotels by spring if you can. Washington DC is the classic choice, since the National Mall hosts the fireworks and the best viewing spots fill early.
The trade-off is the crowd, so give yourself a calmer evening too. The DC night sightseeing tour is a 3-hour bus ride starting at 7:30 PM, from $79.35, passing the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol and the White House. It’s a drive-by, so you won’t get off at most stops.
Labor Day weekend 2027 (Sep 4–6)
Labor Day weekend 2027 is summer’s last call. Beach and lake towns still fill up, but the weather’s warm and many schools are back in session, so crowds can feel lighter than on July 4. Coastal hotels often charge holiday rates through Monday, then drop them once the weekend ends, so a midweek stay costs less. Book by early summer for Cape Cod, the Outer Banks or the Adirondack lakes.
Columbus Day and Veterans Day (Oct 11 and Nov 11)
Both are federal holidays, but plenty of businesses stay open. Federal offices, post offices and most banks close, while stores, restaurants and attractions mostly run normal hours. Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples’ Day in many cities and states) gives you Oct 9–11, but Veterans Day lands on a Thursday, so there’s no long weekend unless you take Friday off.
The Oct 9–11 weekend falls in prime fall color season, and peak leaves in northern New England often arrive in early to mid October. Book lodging 1 to 2 months ahead, and check our guide to fall road trips in the USA for routes.
Thanksgiving 2027 travel (Nov 25–28)
Thanksgiving 2027 travel is the busiest stretch of the year. The holiday is Thursday, Nov 25, and the Wednesday before (Nov 24) is typically heavy on highways and at airports. The Sunday after, Nov 28, has set TSA single-day screening records in recent years. Book flights 2 to 3 months ahead, and fly on Thanksgiving Day itself if your family dinner allows, since it’s usually calmer.
Heading to New York? The Rockefeller Center tree lighting usually happens about a week after Thanksgiving, so a trip that runs into early December catches it. Midtown sidewalks get crowded fast around the tree, so go early in the day.
Christmas 2027 travel (Dec 24–26)
Christmas 2027 travel comes down to timing. Christmas is Saturday, Dec 25, so the observed day is Friday, Dec 24, and many people start leaving the Wednesday or Thursday before. Flights and hotels peak around that window, so book by early fall. Not sure where to go? Our Christmas vacation in the US guide has ideas.
New York does Christmas big, and the 5th Avenue holiday walking tour is an easy way to see it for $45.99. The 90-minute group walk passes the department store windows, the Rockefeller Center tree and Bryant Park’s Winter Village. Dress warm, because you’ll be on some of the busiest sidewalks of the year.
DC is the lower-key choice. The DC Holiday Lights tour is a 3-hour evening bus ride for $79.35 that stops at the National Christmas Tree, the Capitol Christmas Tree and National Harbor’s 54-foot tree. With that many stops in three hours, expect short photo breaks.
New Year’s Eve (Friday, Dec 31)
New Year’s Day 2028 is a Saturday, so the observed day is Friday, Dec 31, which turns New Year’s Eve into a long weekend. Times Square is the classic spot for the ball drop, and viewing areas fill up hours before midnight. Bathroom breaks are tough once you’re in, so plan around that. Rooms with a Times Square address sell out first and cost the most, so book as early as you can.
Klook Tip: Lock in your New Year’s Eve hotel before you book flights, since Times Square rooms go first.
Where to stay for NYC and DC holiday weekends
Holiday weekends push rates up, so the prices below are recent Klook starting rates per night, not quotes for holiday dates. Check your exact dates before you book.
Hilton New York Times Square
The Hilton New York Times Square suits first-timers who want Broadway on their doorstep, with recent rates around $284.85 a night plus a $35 nightly destination fee. It was renovated in 2025, and the 42 St-Port Authority subway station is a 2-minute walk away. Madame Tussauds and Ripley’s Believe It or Not are about a block from the front door. The downside is noise: some guests say 42nd Street stays loud late, so ask for a high floor when you book.
Address: 234 West 42nd Street, New York, NY
Check-in: 4 PM | Check-out: 11 AM
Margaritaville Resort Times Square
The Margaritaville Resort Times Square suits families and groups who want a pool and a rooftop bar in midtown, with recent rates around $199.85 a night. The Times Sq-42 St subway station is about a block away, and Bryant Park is a 5-minute walk. Rooms are compact, many between 180 and 225 square feet. A $57.31 nightly resort fee gets added at check-in, though it covers pool access, WiFi and in-room water.
Address: 560 7th Ave, New York, NY
Check-in: 3 PM | Check-out: 12 PM
Residence Inn by Marriott Washington DC National Mall
The Residence Inn National Mall suits families and longer stays, with recent rates around $253.93 a night and a free hot breakfast. Suites come with kitchens, the Federal Center SW Metro station is a 3-minute walk, and the National Air and Space Museum is about 0.4 miles away. The Museum of the Bible is two blocks from the door. Skip the car if you can, since self-parking runs about $59 a night.
Address: 333 E St SW, Washington, DC
Check-in: 4 PM | Check-out: 11 AM
How to plan around the 2027 holiday calendar
The US public holidays 2027 list rewards early planners, and a few PTO days go a long way. Use the federal holidays 2027 calendar to find your bridges, then book before the crowds do.
Stretch your PTO
- Thanksgiving: Take Mon–Wed, Nov 22–24 (3 PTO days). If your employer gives you Friday, you’re off Nov 20–28, a 9-day break.
- Christmas and New Year’s: Take Dec 27–30 (4 PTO days) and you’re off Dec 24–Jan 2, 10 days in a row, as long as your employer observes both Fridays.
- July 4: Take Jul 6–9 (4 PTO days) for nine days off, Jul 3–11.
- Memorial Day: Take Jun 1–4 (4 PTO days) for nine days off, May 29–Jun 6.
Peak travel days to avoid
Some days are just rough. Wednesday, Nov 24 and Sunday, Nov 28 top the list for Thanksgiving, and the days around Christmas weekend (usually Thursday, Dec 23 and Sunday, Dec 26) are close behind. On three-day weekends, highways jam up on Friday afternoon and the Monday return. If you can leave a day early or come back Tuesday, you’ll save hours.
Booking windows
Treat these as rules of thumb, then adjust for your destination:
- Thanksgiving and Christmas flights: 2 to 3 months ahead.
- Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day: by spring for beach towns and big-city hotels.
- Ski weekends (MLK Day, Presidents’ Day): 2 to 3 months ahead.
- Fall foliage trips (Columbus Day): 1 to 2 months ahead.
- New Year’s Eve in Times Square: as soon as you know your dates.
Klook Tip: Check the cancellation policy on each hotel or tour listing, so you can lock in a date now and adjust later if your plans change.
FAQs about US public holidays 2027
How many federal holidays are there in 2027?
There are 11 federal holidays in 2027, the same as every year. Three of them (Juneteenth, July 4 and Christmas) land on a weekend, so the day off is observed on a Friday or Monday instead.
What are the long weekends in 2027?
The long weekends 2027 offers are Jan 16–18, Feb 13–15, May 29–31, Jun 18–20, Jul 3–5, Sep 4–6 and Oct 9–11. Thanksgiving gives you a four-day weekend (Nov 25–28) if you have Friday off, and Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve both fall on Fridays.
When is Thanksgiving 2027?
Thanksgiving 2027 is Thursday, Nov 25. It always lands on the fourth Thursday of November, and many employers also give Friday, Nov 26 off.
Is Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2027?
Yes, Juneteenth is a federal holiday in 2027. It falls on Saturday, Jun 19, so federal offices observe it on Friday, Jun 18.
What happens when a federal holiday falls on a weekend?
Federal employees get the closest weekday off: Friday if the holiday lands on a Saturday, Monday if it lands on a Sunday. In 2027 that applies to Juneteenth, July 4 and Christmas, plus New Year’s Day 2028 (observed Dec 31, 2027). Private employers and banks set their own rules, so check before you book non-refundable plans.
Is Columbus Day a federal holiday?
Yes, Columbus Day is a federal holiday, observed on the second Monday of October (Oct 11, 2027). Many cities and states call it Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and plenty of businesses stay open, so check hours before you head out.
What is the busiest travel day of the holiday season?
The Sunday after Thanksgiving (Nov 28, 2027) has set TSA single-day screening records in recent years. The Wednesday before (Nov 24) tends to be the heaviest day on highways. To dodge both, fly on Thanksgiving Day itself or leave on Tuesday.
Ready to plan your 2027 getaways?
Circle two long weekends on your calendar, one for summer and one for the holidays, and count out your PTO days now. Maybe it’s a Jul 3–5 evening near the National Mall, or a Dec 24 walk past the Rockefeller Center tree. Then browse New York and Washington DC hotels and tours on Klook, since the best rooms go first on holiday weekends.
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