How to Turn 12 Vacation Days Into 45 in 2025

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Wish you had more vacation time? Workers in the United States often complain about their lack of vacation time. The average American employee gets just 12 paid time off (PTO) days per year, compared to the much more generous 25 days off European workers enjoy. If a move to Europe isn’t in the cards for you, don’t worry—you can still travel frequently and keep your job. 

By combining your vacation time with federal holidays, you can maximize your time off and travel for up to 45 days in 2025. Here’s how to do it.

2025 Federal Holidays

Save this calendar of federal holidays, which most workers should get off. These holidays don’t count towards your vacation time.

Date	Holiday
Wednesday, January 01	New Year’s Day
Monday, January 20	Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 17	Washington’s Birthday
Monday, May 26	Memorial Day
Thursday, June 19	Juneteenth National Independence Day
Friday, July 04	Independence Day
Monday, September 01	Labor Day
Monday, October 13	Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Tuesday, November 11	Veterans Day
Thursday, November 27	Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, December 25	Christmas Day

New Year’s Day

Ease into the new year with a vacation. New Year’s Day falls on a Wednesday in 2025, so you can use just two PTO days on Thursday and Friday and enjoy a five-day getaway. 
PTO Days Used: 2
Total Days Off: 5

MLK Day

As the post-holiday slump sets in, combat it with a quick escape around Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Take Friday, January 17th, off and enjoy a refreshing 4-day break. It’s the perfect antidote to winter’s chill and workplace monotony.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

President’s Day

Want to take a romantic retreat with your partner? Take off Valentine’s Day, which falls on a Friday in 2025, and enjoy a bonus day off since Monday, February 17th, is President’s Day. 
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

Memorial Day

Kick off summer with a Memorial Day Weekend trip. If you’re taking a road trip, we recommend taking Tuesday, May 27th, off so you can avoid the traffic returning home on Memorial Day itself (Monday, May 26.)
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

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Juneteenth 

With Juneteenth falling on a Thursday, snag June 20th as PTO for another 4-day escape. 
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

Independence Day

July 4th falls on a Friday this year, so you could take either Thursday or Monday off for the perfect summer long weekend. 
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

Labor Day

Flip the script on Labor Day by laboring less. Take September 2nd off for an end-of-summer 4-day recharge.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

Columbus Day/ Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Since Monday, October 12, is a federal holiday, you could take either the Friday before or the Tuesday after to get a four-day weekend. 
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

Veteran’s Day

Veteran’s Day falls on a Tuesday in 2025, so take Monday, November 10th off for a four-day weekend. 
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 27th in 2025. Take off the following Friday to get a four-day weekend. 
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

Christmas

Cap off your year of strategic travel with one last hurrah. Take December 26th as PTO and gift yourself a 4-day weekend. 
By following this PTO playbook, you’ll stretch your vacation days like a pro, turning 11 days of leave into 44 days of adventure. 
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4

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