Travel enthusiasts, rejoice! In 2025, you’ll have plenty of exciting opportunities to enjoy short — yet amazing — vacations across the United States. From January until December, there is many a long weekend to take advantage of!
Long weekends are basically vacation periods that are at least three days long, as they include one or more of the days preceding or following a public holiday. So don't let a 3 day weekend (or more) go to waste! With so much time off, you have the opportunity to plan an amazing short vacation around the country.
To help you make the most out of 2025's public holidays, we’ve created a downloadable cheat sheet with all the long weekends that are happening throughout the year so you can plan your short trips in advance.
A long weekend typically occurs when a federal holiday lands on a Friday or Monday, creating a natural 3-day break with the adjacent Saturday and Sunday. In some cases, you can extend the weekend even further by adding a strategic PTO day before or after mid-week holidays like Juneteenth or Christmas. These bonus days off are perfect for short trips, staycations, or simply recharging.
2025 Long Weekends In The USA By Month
| Month | Holiday | Long Weekend Range | PTO Needed? |
| January | New Year's Day (Wed, Jan 1) | Jan 1–5 | Yes (2–3 days) |
| January | MLK Jr. Day (Mon, Jan 20) | Jan 18–20 | No |
| February | Presidents Day (Mon, Feb 17) | Feb 15–17 | No |
| May | Memorial Day (Mon, May 26) | May 24–26 | No |
| June | Juneteenth (Thu, Jun 19) | Jun 19–22 | Yes (Jun 20) |
| July | Independence Day (Fri, Jul 4) | Jul 4–6 | No |
| September | Labor Day (Mon, Sep 1) | Aug 30–Sep 1 | No |
| October | Columbus Day (Mon, Oct 13) | Oct 11–13 | No |
| November | Veterans Day (Tue, Nov 11) | Nov 8–11 | Yes (Nov 10) |
| November | Thanksgiving (Thu, Nov 28) | Nov 28–Dec 1 | Yes (Nov 29) |
| December | Christmas (Thu, Dec 25) | Dec 25–28 | Yes (Dec 26) |
Pro Tip: Combine PTO days with existing holidays for maximum vacation time!
Whether you're looking for a romantic escape with your loved one or a nature getaway to visit with your family, a long weekend vacation can be an excellent way to explore new places, rewind, and relax!
If you're still deciding on the best vacation spots to go to, we've got you covered. Here are the best long weekend getaways to take in the USA. Read on the post for some travel inspiration on the best long weekend trips in the US, and start getting ready for your next travel.
🗓️ All 3-Day Weekends in 2025
A 3-day weekend is when a public holiday falls on a Friday or Monday, giving you a full extra day to travel or unwind without taking PTO. Here’s every one happening in 2025:
- January 18–20 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Mon, Jan 20)
- February 15–17 — Presidents Day (Mon, Feb 17)
- May 24–26 — Memorial Day (Mon, May 26)
- July 4–6 — Independence Day (Fri, Jul 4)
- August 30–September 1 — Labor Day (Mon, Sep 1)
- October 11–13 — Columbus Day (Mon, Oct 13)
✅ Pro Tip: Want to stretch a 3-day weekend into 4? Look for Thursday holidays like Juneteenth or Christmas and take one day off!
💡 Need a 4-Day Break?
Want to turn a long weekend into a 4-day getaway? Here are the best opportunities in 2025 where adding just one PTO day gives you a full mini-vacation. Perfect for deeper travel or more rest.
📆 2025 4-Day Weekend Opportunities
Add a strategic day off around these holidays:
- January 1–5 — New Year’s Day (Wed) → Take Jan 2–3 off
- June 19–22 — Juneteenth (Thu) → Take Jun 20 off
- November 8–11 — Veterans Day (Tue) → Take Nov 10 off
- November 27–Dec 1 — Thanksgiving (Thu) → Take Nov 29 (Fri) off
- December 25–28 — Christmas Day (Thu) → Take Dec 26 (Fri) off
🏖️ Longest Break in 2025
Looking to take full advantage of the calendar? Thanksgiving week offers the longest natural break of the year — from Thursday, November 27 to Sunday, December 1. Just take Friday, Nov 29 off, and you’ve got five days of rest, travel, or family time without using much PTO!
Use your long weekends wisely with these curated U.S. getaways, handpicked for each season. Click below to explore CuddlyNest destination guides:
🌸 Spring Escapes
☀️ Summer Adventures
🍂 Fall Retreats
❄️ Winter Wonders
All 3-Day Weekends in 2026 (USA)
Here are all the federal holiday long weekends in the US for 2026, in order.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Saturday, January 17 to Monday, January 19. MLK Day falls on the third Monday in January. January long weekends work well for domestic ski trips and warm-weather escapes from cold northern cities. Book at least 4 weeks ahead. Ski resort hotels in Colorado on CuddlyNest from $95/night for MLK weekend.
Presidents Day: Saturday, February 14 to Monday, February 16. Presidents Day lands on Valentine's Day weekend in 2026. The travel peak is heavy on couple destinations like New York, New Orleans, and Miami. Book hotels 6-8 weeks ahead for popular cities. New Orleans hotels on CuddlyNest from $75/night for Presidents Day weekend.
Memorial Day: Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25. The unofficial start of summer. Highest-demand long weekend of the year. Beach hotels along the East Coast and Gulf Coast book out completely. The Florida Keys and South Carolina's Outer Banks charge 2-3x regular rates. Book 2-3 months ahead or expect premium pricing. Miami hotels on CuddlyNest from $99/night for Memorial Day.
Juneteenth: Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21. Juneteenth falls on a Friday in 2026, creating a natural 3-day weekend. This weekend lands earlier than July 4th and typically sees fewer crowds at beach destinations. Charleston hotels from $85/night on CuddlyNest for the Juneteenth weekend.
Independence Day: Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5. July 4 falls on a Saturday in 2026. The holiday is observed on Friday, July 3, creating a Friday-through-Sunday long weekend. Fireworks events happen on July 4 regardless. Busiest travel weekend of the year for most beach and lakefront destinations. San Diego hotels on CuddlyNest from $109/night. One of the best July 4 cities for fireworks over the harbor.
Labor Day: Saturday, September 5 to Monday, September 7. The unofficial end of summer. Hotel rates drop 20-30% versus Memorial Day for the same destinations. Water temperatures at beach towns are at their warmest of the year. Best-value summer long weekend. Outer Banks hotels from $89/night on CuddlyNest for Labor Day.
Columbus Day: Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 12. Not a universal holiday, since many private employers do not observe it, but a 3-day weekend for federal employees and schools in most states. Peak fall foliage timing in New England. Vermont and New Hampshire leaf-peeping accommodation books out 2-3 months ahead for this weekend. Vermont hotels from $95/night on CuddlyNest for fall foliage season.
Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11. Falls midweek in 2026. Not a long weekend unless you take Thursday or Friday off. The closest natural long weekend is Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26 to Sunday, November 29. Four-day weekend. The longest federal break of the year. Wednesday evening is the busiest travel night; Sunday evening is the second busiest. Fly Tuesday or travel Saturday to avoid peak surcharges and delays.
Christmas: Friday, December 25 to Sunday, December 27. Four-day weekend. Christmas falls on a Friday in 2026, creating a Christmas Eve through Sunday break. Combined with New Year's the following week, late December 2026 has two consecutive 4-day weekends. Book early. New York City hotels on CuddlyNest from $99/night. Times Square New Year's Eve hotels are usually sold out 2 months ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions About US Long Weekends
When is the next 3-day weekend in the US in 2026?
As of April 2026, the next 3-day weekend is Memorial Day weekend: Saturday May 23 to Monday May 25. After that come Juneteenth (June 19-21), Independence Day observed (July 3-5), Labor Day (September 5-7), and Columbus Day (October 10-12).
How many 3-day weekends are there in 2026?
Seven standard 3-day weekends in 2026: MLK Day in January, Presidents Day in February, Memorial Day in May, Juneteenth in June, Independence Day observed in July, Labor Day in September, and Columbus Day in October. Thanksgiving and Christmas both create 4-day weekends in 2026, giving you two additional extended breaks in the fourth quarter.
Which states have the most 3-day weekends?
All states follow federal holiday Monday observances, so the 3-day weekend count is the same nationwide for federal employees. Private employer policies vary by state and company. California and New York tend to have the most state-level holiday additions. Check your employer's calendar rather than assuming all federal holidays are observed days off.
