4 days off for 1 PTO day
Washington PTO planner 2028
Washington has 10 holidays in 2028, every one of them on a weekday. Book 1 PTO day for July 1 to 4 and you are off for 4 days straight. The longest stretch with up to 10 PTO days: 10 days, December 24, 2027 to January 2, 2028, for 4 PTO days.
- Holidays 2028
- 10
- on weekdays
- 10
- bridge days
- 1
- off for 4 PTO days
- 10 days
The 2028 calendar in Washington
These are the paid holidays Washington gives its state employees in 2028, taken from the state's official schedule. Private employers set their own lists; most of them follow the federal core of New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so this page plans both ways.
Washington counts 10 holidays this year, which puts it at number 9 of the 14 states in our verified data (the average is 10.1). None of them falls on a weekend, so every one is a real day away from work.
All holidays 2028 in Washington, one by one
Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer stretch.
United StatesiPhoto: Gordon Leggett · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
TexasiPhoto: Leaflet · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons- Monday, January 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, January 15 to 17.
- Monday, February 21: Presidents' Day. 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, February 19 to 21.
- 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, May 27 to 29.
- Monday, June 19: Juneteenth. 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, June 17 to 19.
- 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. Take Monday, July 3 off and you have 4 days in a row, July 1 to 4.
- 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, September 2 to 4.
- Friday, November 10: Veterans Day. Veterans Day honors everyone who served in the U.S. armed forces, on November 11, the anniversary of the First World War armistice. Federal offices and many schools close; many businesses stay open. The date itself, Saturday, November 11, falls on a weekend, so the day off is Friday, November 10. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, November 10 to 12.
- 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. You get 4 free days in a row, November 23 to 26, with no leave needed.
- Friday, November 24: Native American Heritage Day. Honors Native American heritage on the Friday after Thanksgiving. State offices close, turning Thanksgiving into a four day weekend for family visits or a short trip. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, November 23 to 26.
- 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, December 23 to 25.
United StatesiPhoto: Gordon Leggett · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTexasiPhoto: Leaflet · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
2028's top stretches for Washington
Each stretch below starts and ends on a free day, contains at least one holiday, and needs no more than 10 PTO days. They are ranked by how many days off each day of leave brings.
Around Christmas Day and New Year's Day, 4 PTO days on Mon December 27, Tue December 28, Wed December 29 and Thu December 30 unlock 10 days away, December 24, 2027 to January 2, 2028.
January 15 to 23: 4 PTO days (January 18 to 21) around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
February 19 to 27: 4 PTO days (February 22 to 25) around Presidents' Day give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
May 27 to June 4: 4 PTO days (May 30 to June 2) around Memorial Day give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
Around Independence Day, 1 PTO day on Mon July 3 unlocks 4 days away, July 1 to 4.
November 18 to 26: 3 PTO days (November 20 to 22) around Thanksgiving Day and Native American Heritage Day give 9 days off, 3.0 days for every day used.
How far each PTO day goes in 2028
With 1 PTO day the longest run you can build is 4 days, July 1 to 4. Three days stretch to 9 days off (November 18 to 26). Five days, a typical week, become 11 days off around Thanksgiving Day and Native American Heritage Day, November 23 to December 3.
Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 18 days in a row, June 17 to July 4. For nine days or more away you need 3 PTO days.
Many US employers offer around 10 to 15 PTO days a year. Spend four of them well and you can have two four-day weekends and one long week, without touching the rest.
The best stretches 2028 in Washington
Every row is a run of weekends, holidays and PTO days. The highlighted row brings the most days off per day of leave.
| Dates | Result | Take off | Holidays | School holidays | Plan a trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Dec 24 to Sun, Jan 2 | 10 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon, Dec 27 · Tue, Dec 28 · Wed, Dec 29 · Thu, Dec 30 | Christmas Day, New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Jan 15 to Sun, Jan 23 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Jan 18 · Wed, Jan 19 · Thu, Jan 20 · Fri, Jan 21 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Feb 19 to Sun, Feb 27 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Feb 22 · Wed, Feb 23 · Thu, Feb 24 · Fri, Feb 25 | Presidents' Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, May 27 to Sun, Jun 4 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, May 30 · Wed, May 31 · Thu, Jun 1 · Fri, Jun 2 | Memorial Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Jun 17 to Sun, Jun 25 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Jun 20 · Wed, Jun 21 · Thu, Jun 22 · Fri, Jun 23 | Juneteenth | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Jul 1 to Tue, Jul 4 | 4 days offfor 1 PTO day, 4 days off per day of leave | Mon, Jul 3 | Independence Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Sep 2 to Sun, Sep 10 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Sep 5 · Wed, Sep 6 · Thu, Sep 7 · Fri, Sep 8 | Labor Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Nov 4 to Sun, Nov 12 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Mon, Nov 6 · Tue, Nov 7 · Wed, Nov 8 · Thu, Nov 9 | Veterans Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Nov 18 to Sun, Nov 26 | 9 days offfor 3 PTO days, 3 days off per day of leave | Mon, Nov 20 · Tue, Nov 21 · Wed, Nov 22 | Thanksgiving Day, Native American Heritage Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Dec 23 to Sun, Dec 31 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Dec 26 · Wed, Dec 27 · Thu, Dec 28 · Fri, Dec 29 | Christmas Day | none | Plan a trip |
What 1 to 10 PTO days bring
For each budget, the longest run of days off in 2028.
1 PTO day
4 days
July 1 to July 4
Independence Day
3 PTO days
9 days
November 18 to November 26
Thanksgiving Day, Native American Heritage Day
5 PTO days
11 days
November 23 to December 3
Thanksgiving Day, Native American Heritage Day
8 PTO days
17 days
November 10 to November 26
Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Native American Heritage Day
10 PTO days
18 days
June 17 to July 4
Juneteenth, Independence Day
2028 calendar for Washington
- Holiday
- PTO day in a stretch
- Weekend
- School holidays
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
If your employer gives the six core holidays
Working for a private company? Most give the six core holidays: Memorial Day (May 29), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (September 4), Thanksgiving Day (November 23) and Christmas Day (December 25). Washington's other state holidays then are regular workdays for you.
With those six, your best stretch is July 1 to 4: 1 PTO day for 4 days off. The table above uses the full state list; the difference shows how much an employer's holiday policy is worth.
When the holidays fall in 2028
Winter: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 17, Presidents' Day on February 21 and Christmas Day on December 25. The pick of the season is December 24, 2027 to January 2, 2028 with 4 PTO days for 10 days off.
Spring: Memorial Day on May 29. The pick of the season is May 27 to June 4 with 4 PTO days for 9 days off.
Summer: Juneteenth on June 19 and Independence Day on July 4. The pick of the season is July 1 to 4 with 1 PTO day for 4 days off.
Fall: Labor Day on September 4, Veterans Day on November 10, Thanksgiving Day on November 23 and Native American Heritage Day on November 24. The pick of the season is November 18 to 26 with 3 PTO days for 9 days off.
How Washington stacks up
Hawaii has the most with 13 holidays in 2028, Wyoming the fewest with 8. Washington sits in between with 10.
HawaiiiPhoto: E bailey · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
WyomingiPhoto: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsIts best stretch, July 1 to 4, returns 4.0 days off per day of leave. No other state in our data does better this year.
HawaiiiPhoto: E bailey · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWyomingiPhoto: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLong weekend ideas from Washington
Washingtonians head to the San Juan Islands in summer, Mount Rainier and the North Cascades for wildflowers and hiking, and the Olympic Peninsula with its rainforest and beaches. Leavenworth suits a winter weekend.
Your strongest stretches this year fall in December, January and February, so pick the trip that suits that season, and book early: everyone else in Washington has the same days off.
PTO Planner 2028 for Washington as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in WA on one printable page. Plus The Sunday Getaway every week and a note whenever a long weekend is worth it.
Where to on the long weekends?
For the six strongest stretches: places with the right climate that month, flights from SEA.
July 1 to July 4: 1 PTO day, 4 days off
Short flight in July, flights from SEA
iPhoto: Thomas Wolf , www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsYosemite National Park81 °F by day · Flight about 1 h 55Plan a trip for these daysSee Yosemite National Park- Plan a trip for these daysSee Calgary
November 18 to November 26: 3 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in November, flights from SEA
iPhoto: Bigmikebmw · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsPhoenix77 °F by day · Flight about 2 h 39, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Phoenix
February 19 to February 27: 4 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in February, flights from SEA
- iPhoto: Bigmikebmw · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsPhoenix70 °F by day · Flight about 2 h 39, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Phoenix
May 27 to June 4: 4 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in May, flights from SEA
iPhoto: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLas Vegas89 °F by day · Flight about 2 h 13, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Las Vegas
Holidays 2028 in Washington
| Date | Weekday | Holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 17 | Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | nationwide |
| February 21 | Monday | Presidents' Day | nationwide |
| May 29 | Monday | Memorial Day | nationwide |
| June 19 | Monday | Juneteenth | nationwide |
| July 4 | Tuesday | Independence Day | nationwide |
| September 4 | Monday | Labor Day | nationwide |
| November 10 | Friday | Veterans Day | nationwide |
| November 23 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | nationwide |
| November 24 | Friday | Native American Heritage Day | statewide |
| December 25 | Monday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
Washington in other years
2026 and 2027 are planned as well, each with its own dates and stretches.
Holiday dates move every year: fixed-date days change their weekday, and Easter moves between late March and late April, which is why the best stretches are never the same twice.
Where these dates come from
Every date on this page comes from the official source for Washington: RCW 1.16.050 Legal holidays and OPM federal holidays, read directly and compared day by day with an independent second source. A year appears once its official list is published, and we never fill a gap with another state's dates.
The planner treats weekends and full holidays as free days and works out where your PTO days turn into the longest time off. Days kept in part of Washington or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on October 1, 2026.
PTO Planner 2028 in WA: frequently asked questions
How many holidays does Washington have in 2028?
10 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 17, Presidents' Day on February 21, Memorial Day on May 29, Juneteenth on June 19, Independence Day on July 4, Labor Day on September 4, Veterans Day on November 10, Thanksgiving Day on November 23, Native American Heritage Day on November 24 and Christmas Day on December 25.
What is the best long weekend in Washington in 2028?
July 1 to 4: 1 PTO day gives 4 days off around Independence Day.
How many PTO days do I need for nine days off in 2028?
3 PTO days: take November 20 to 22 off and you are off November 18 to 26.
Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday in Washington in 2028?
No. the day after Thanksgiving is not on Washington's official list for 2028, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
Is Juneteenth a holiday in Washington in 2028?
Yes. Juneteenth is a full day off on Monday, June 19.
Do private employers in Washington have to give state holidays?
No. State holidays apply to state offices and many public employers. Private employers decide their own paid holidays, and most give the six core days listed above.
2028 in the other states
How the PTO Planner works
Holidays: the public holidays from the official list in WA, checked date by date. The planner counts only days off for the whole region.
Stretches: start and end on a day off, include at least one holiday and at most 10 PTO days. Ranked by days off per day of leave; Saturday and Sunday count as free.
School breaks: officially published dates only, checked every month. Trip ideas: the month's climate and flights from the region's main airport.
