1 PTO day, 4 days off
PTO planner 2028 for every state
Holidays 2028 for 14 states in the United States, each from its official list. The best deal of the year: Arizona, July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day.
- shared holidays
- 5
- on weekdays
- 5
- Holidays per region
- 8 to 13
- Regions in the planner
- 14
How 2028 looks across the United States
Federal employees have 11 holidays a year, and every state sets its own list for state workers on top of the federal pattern. Private employers choose their own days, usually the six core holidays. Pick your state below to see its full list, the best stretches for your PTO and a 2028 calendar.
5 days are shared by every state listed here: Memorial Day (Monday, May 29), Independence Day (Tuesday, July 4), Labor Day (Monday, September 4), Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 23) and Christmas Day (Monday, December 25).
The federal holidays in 2028
What each shared day marks and where it falls this year.
- Monday, May 29: Memorial Day. Memorial Day honors the men and women who died serving in the armed forces. It falls on the last Monday of May and unofficially opens summer: beaches, lake houses and road trips fill up.
- Tuesday, July 4: Independence Day. The Fourth of July celebrates the Declaration of Independence: parades, barbecues and fireworks. When it lands near a weekend, it creates one of the busiest summer travel stretches of the year.
- Monday, September 4: Labor Day. Labor Day honors American workers on the first Monday of September and marks the unofficial end of summer. It is the last big long weekend for beaches, lakes and road trips before school is back in full swing.
- Thursday, November 23: Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November: turkey, family and football. It is the busiest travel weekend of the year in the United States, so book flights and drives early.
- Monday, December 25: Christmas Day. Christmas Day is a federal holiday: most shops close and families gather. The weeks around it are a peak time for flights and drives, so book early if you plan to travel.
Most and fewest holidays in 2028
Hawaii leads with 13, followed by Missouri (12) and North Carolina (12). At the other end, Wyoming has 8.
HawaiiiPhoto: E bailey · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
WyomingiPhoto: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe most efficient stretch of the year belongs to Arizona: July 1 to 4, 4.0 days off for every day of leave.
HawaiiiPhoto: E bailey · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWyomingiPhoto: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons2028 by state
| Region | Holidays | Best stretch | Longest break |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 9 (9 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| California | 10 (10 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 9 days offSat, Nov 18 to Sun, Nov 26 · 3 PTO |
| Florida | 8 (8 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| Hawaii | 13 (13 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| Iowa | 8 (8 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| Minnesota | 10 (10 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| Missouri | 12 (12 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| Montana | 10 (10 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| North Carolina | 12 (12 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 12 days offThu, Dec 23 to Mon, Jan 3 · 4 PTO |
| North Dakota | 9 (9 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| South Dakota | 10 (10 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| Washington | 10 (10 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| West Virginia | 12 (12 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jun 17 to Tue, Jun 20 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
| Wyoming | 8 (8 on weekdays) | 1 PTO day, 4 days offSat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 10 days offFri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 · 4 PTO |
Calendar 2028: the shared holidays
- Holiday
- PTO day in a stretch
- Weekend
- School holidays
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Every state in 2028
One paragraph per state: how many full days off, the days that are its own, and the stretches worth booking first.
FloridaiPhoto: Don Miller · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
CaliforniaiPhoto: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons- Arizona: 9 holidays, 9 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day (January 17), Lincoln/Washington Presidents' Day (February 21), Columbus Day (October 9) and Veterans' Day (November 10). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- California: 10 holidays, 10 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 17), Presidents' Day (February 21), Cesar Chavez Day (March 31), Veterans Day (November 10) and Day after Thanksgiving (November 24). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 9 days from November 18 for 3 PTO days.
- Florida: 8 holidays, 8 on a weekday. Its own: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 17), Veterans' Day (November 10) and Friday after Thanksgiving (November 24). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- Hawaii: 13 holidays, 13 on a weekday. Its own: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 17), Presidents' Day (February 21), Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day (March 27), Good Friday (April 14) and King Kamehameha I Day (June 12). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- Iowa: 8 holidays, 8 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday (January 17), Veterans Day (November 10) and Friday after Thanksgiving (November 24). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- Minnesota: 10 holidays, 10 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King's Birthday (January 17), Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday (February 21), Juneteenth (June 19), Veterans Day (November 10) and Friday after Thanksgiving (November 24). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- Missouri: 12 holidays, 12 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 17), Lincoln's Birthday (February 11), Washington's Birthday (February 21), Truman Birthday (May 8) and Juneteenth (June 19). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- Montana: 10 holidays, 10 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 17), Presidents' Day (February 21), Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day (October 9), State general election day (November 7) and Veterans' Day (November 10). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- North Carolina: 12 holidays, 12 on a weekday. Its own: New Year's Day (January 3), Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (January 17), Good Friday (April 14), Veterans Day (November 10) and Thanksgiving (November 24). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 12 days from December 23 for 4 PTO days.
- North Dakota: 9 holidays, 9 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King Day (January 17), Birthday of George Washington (February 21), Good Friday (April 14) and Veterans' Day (November 10). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- South Dakota: 10 holidays, 10 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 17), Birthdays of Lincoln and Washington (February 21), Juneteenth (June 19), Native Americans' Day (October 9) and Veterans' Day (November 10). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- Washington: 10 holidays, 10 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 17), Presidents' Day (February 21), Juneteenth (June 19), Veterans Day (November 10) and Native American Heritage Day (November 24). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- West Virginia: 12 holidays, 12 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King's Birthday (January 17), Presidents' Day (February 21), West Virginia Day (June 20), Columbus Day (October 9) and General election day (Susan B. Anthony Day) (November 7). Best stretch: June 17 to 20, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
- Wyoming: 8 holidays, 8 on a weekday. Its own: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 17), President's Day (February 21) and Veterans Day (November 10). Best stretch: July 1 to 4, 4 days off for 1 PTO day. Longest: 10 days from December 24 for 4 PTO days.
FloridaiPhoto: Don Miller · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCaliforniaiPhoto: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The days that differ by state
Beyond the shared days, each state keeps its own. These are the ones that decide whose long weekends are longer in 2028.
TexasiPhoto: Leaflet · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
New EnglandiPhoto: M2545 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons- New Year's Day, Monday, January 3: North Carolina. New Year's Day opens the year with parades, college football bowl games and a quiet day at home. When it falls near a weekend, it extends the holiday season into a longer break.
- Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day, Monday, January 17: Arizona. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 17: California, Missouri, Montana and Wyoming. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips.
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, January 17: Florida. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips.
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 17: Hawaii. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Monday, January 17: Iowa. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips.
- Martin Luther King's Birthday, Monday, January 17: Minnesota and West Virginia. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Monday, January 17: North Carolina. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips.
- Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 17: North Dakota. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 17: South Dakota and Washington. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips.
- Lincoln's Birthday, Friday, February 11: Missouri. Remembers Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president. A few states keep the day off in February, while others move it next to Thanksgiving to stretch the holiday into a four day weekend for state workers.
- Lincoln/Washington Presidents' Day, Monday, February 21: Arizona. A combined day for the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. It falls on the same Monday as Presidents' Day for most workers, so it brings a winter long weekend that suits ski resorts and warm weather escapes.
- Presidents' Day, Monday, February 21: California, Hawaii, Montana, Washington and West Virginia. Officially Washington's Birthday at the federal level and widely called Presidents' Day. Some states place the day elsewhere, even next to Christmas; wherever it sits, it is a classic hook for a long weekend and big retail sales.
- Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday, Monday, February 21: Minnesota. A combined day for the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. It falls on the same Monday as Presidents' Day for most workers, so it brings a winter long weekend that suits ski resorts and warm weather escapes.
- Washington's Birthday, Monday, February 21: Missouri. Officially Washington's Birthday at the federal level and widely called Presidents' Day. Some states place the day elsewhere, even next to Christmas; wherever it sits, it is a classic hook for a long weekend and big retail sales.
- Birthday of George Washington, Monday, February 21: North Dakota. Officially Washington's Birthday at the federal level and widely called Presidents' Day. Some states place the day elsewhere, even next to Christmas; wherever it sits, it is a classic hook for a long weekend and big retail sales.
- Birthdays of Lincoln and Washington, Monday, February 21: South Dakota. A combined day for the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. It falls on the same Monday as Presidents' Day for most workers, so it brings a winter long weekend that suits ski resorts and warm weather escapes.
- President's Day, Monday, February 21: Wyoming. Officially Washington's Birthday at the federal level and widely called Presidents' Day. Some states place the day elsewhere, even next to Christmas; wherever it sits, it is a classic hook for a long weekend and big retail sales.
- Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day, Monday, March 27: Hawaii. Prince Kuhio Day honors Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, who represented Hawaii in Congress and championed Native Hawaiian homelands. Expect festivals, canoe races and cultural events across the islands.
- Cesar Chavez Day, Friday, March 31: California. Honors Cesar Chavez, the farmworker and labor rights leader, at the end of March. In California it is a state holiday; elsewhere it is often a day of service and community events.
- Good Friday, Friday, April 14: Hawaii, North Carolina and North Dakota. Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is a state holiday in a handful of states. Offices close, and the Easter weekend becomes a good time for a spring break trip.
- Truman Birthday, Monday, May 8: Missouri. Truman Day honors Harry S. Truman, the president from Missouri, on his May birthday. State offices close, and Independence, his hometown, makes a fitting day trip.
- King Kamehameha I Day, Monday, June 12: Hawaii. King Kamehameha I Day honors the king who united the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii celebrates with lei draping ceremonies at his statues, floral parades and hula, and many families head to the beach.
- Juneteenth, Monday, June 19: Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota and Washington. Juneteenth marks June 19, the day news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. A federal holiday since 2021, it brings festivals, cookouts and family reunions and an early summer day off.
- West Virginia Day, Tuesday, June 20: West Virginia. West Virginia Day marks the date the state split from Virginia during the Civil War. State offices close, and the long June days suit trips to the New River Gorge and the mountains.
- Statehood Day, Friday, August 18: Hawaii. Statehood Day, also called Admission Day, marks the date the state joined the Union. State offices close, and the long weekend it often creates is a favorite for a late summer trip.
- Columbus Day, Monday, October 9: Arizona, Missouri and West Virginia. Columbus Day falls on the second Monday of October. Banks, schools and federal offices close in many places, and the long weekend is peak time for leaf peeping in New England and the Appalachians.
- Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day, Monday, October 9: Montana. Honors both Indigenous peoples and Christopher Columbus on the second Monday of October. The long weekend lands in the middle of fall foliage season, so mountain towns get busy.
- Native Americans' Day, Monday, October 9: South Dakota. Celebrates the history and cultures of Native American peoples on the second Monday of October. Expect powwows and cultural events, and an autumn long weekend that suits a trip to see the fall colors.
- General Election Day, Tuesday, November 7: Hawaii. Election Day gives state workers time to vote, usually on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Polling stations open early, and in many states schools close as they serve as polling places.
TexasiPhoto: Leaflet · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsNew EnglandiPhoto: M2545 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons2028 season by season
Spring: Memorial Day on Monday, May 29. A holiday on a Monday or Friday gives a three-day weekend for everyone in the United States.
Summer: Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4. Midweek days like these are where a day or two of PTO pays off most.
Fall: Labor Day on Monday, September 4 and Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 23. A holiday on a Monday or Friday gives a three-day weekend for everyone in the United States.
Winter: Christmas Day on Monday, December 25. A holiday on a Monday or Friday gives a three-day weekend for everyone in the United States.
The shared holidays 2028
| Date | Weekday | Holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29 | Monday | Memorial Day | nationwide |
| July 4 | Tuesday | Independence Day | nationwide |
| September 4 | Monday | Labor Day | nationwide |
| November 23 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | nationwide |
| December 25 | Monday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
Each region's own holidays are listed on its page.
Trip ideas for the long weekends of 2028
Places with the right climate for the three strongest stretches, flights from ATL. Each region's page uses the airport closest to you.
July 1 to July 4: 1 PTO day, 4 days off
Short flight in July, flights from ATL
New Orleans88 °F by day · Sea 86 °F · Flight about 1 h 25, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee New Orleans
iPhoto: Salvatore Freni Jr · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCayman Islands85 °F by day · Sea 85 °F · Flight about 2 h 28Plan a trip for these daysSee Cayman Islands
iPhoto: Der-wuppertaler · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNassau85 °F by day · Sea 85 °F · Flight about 1 h 58, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Nassau
July 1 to July 4: 1 PTO day, 4 days off
Short flight in July, flights from ATL
- New Orleans88 °F by day · Sea 86 °F · Flight about 1 h 25, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee New Orleans
- iPhoto: Salvatore Freni Jr · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCayman Islands85 °F by day · Sea 85 °F · Flight about 2 h 28Plan a trip for these daysSee Cayman Islands
- iPhoto: Der-wuppertaler · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNassau85 °F by day · Sea 85 °F · Flight about 1 h 58, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Nassau
July 1 to July 4: 1 PTO day, 4 days off
Short flight in July, flights from ATL
- New Orleans88 °F by day · Sea 86 °F · Flight about 1 h 25, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee New Orleans
- iPhoto: Salvatore Freni Jr · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCayman Islands85 °F by day · Sea 85 °F · Flight about 2 h 28Plan a trip for these daysSee Cayman Islands
- iPhoto: Der-wuppertaler · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNassau85 °F by day · Sea 85 °F · Flight about 1 h 58, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Nassau
Where these dates come from
Each state page is built from that state's own official list, read directly and checked against a second independent source. States whose 2028 list is not out yet appear as soon as it is published; nothing is ever copied from a neighbour.
The best stretches use weekends and full days off only, with up to ten PTO days, and are ranked by days off per day of leave.
PTO Planner 2028: frequently asked questions
Which state has the most holidays in 2028?
Hawaii, with 13.
What is the best long weekend of 2028?
July 1 to 4 in Arizona: 1 PTO day for 4 days off.
How do I plan my PTO days for 2028?
Open your state, start with the stretches at the top of the table, and book them early: flights and stays fill up fast around holidays.
Your region
How the PTO Planner works
Holidays: the public holidays from each region's official list, checked date by date.
Stretches: start and end on a day off, include at least one holiday and at most 10 days of leave. Saturday and Sunday count as free.
Trip ideas: the month's climate and flights from the main airport.
