Welcome to vacation year 2023! Have you thought about your travel plans for the new year yet? A new year means a fresh set of holidays to plan vacations around. Each of these official national holidays represent easy opportunities to take a trip while saving a precious vacation day. Ask yourself how many vacations are you going to take this year.

Before you plan your next trip, mark your calendar with your own list of official employee holidays that are offered for 2023. When you leverage one of your company holidays by taking vacation days before and/or after, you’ll save valuable time off to use later in the year. This is why the team at VacationCounts publishes this annual list of federal observed holidays in the USA.

It’s not news that Americans get so little time off work compared to the rest of the world. Holidays can make up the difference! Use every public holiday to the fullest in order to benefit from long weekend trips and longer breaks with the addition of other PTO. Make it your new year’s resolution to improve work-life balance by taking one more vacation this year compared to last year!

Official U.S. Labor Statistics – Access to Paid Holidays

Source – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (TED: The Economics Daily)

View Chart: Workers in private industry received an average of 8 paid holidays in 2017

So without further ado, here is the list of the holiday dates in the USA for 2023 which includes the official calendar date and the observed date if a holiday happens to fall on a weekend or non-working day. Plus learn about the fascinating history of each holiday along along with smart ideas on how to turn each into a memorable trip.

Reminder: Review Your Official Company Holiday List

Before you get out your 2023 calendar to start planning, grab a copy of your company holiday list. Check your office inbox or login to your employee portal to find out which holidays you’ll get off this year. Full-time workers in America typically receive all of the following U.S. federal holidays. In addition you may get one or two extra holidays this year depending on your company and in which state you reside. Your own workplace holiday list will vary as there is no legal requirement to offer paid holidays in the US. Hopefully your employer is generous and you will get paid for these American holidays plus get a floating holiday or two as a bonus.

Compare your list with this set of 2023 standard holidays for federal government or state employees (just do a quick search on Google for state holidays where you live). Of course if an official holiday date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the observed date will often be the day before or after. So take notice when you mark your personal or travel calendar with your 2023 holiday time-off closures.

2023 Holidays and Observances in the USA

Sunday, January 1, 2023 – New Year’s Day

Observed: Monday, January 2, 2023

With New Year’s Day on a Sunday you have the entire weekend to celebrate the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. You still deserve a holiday, so most employers offer the Monday as the observed day off from work. It’s up to your employer of course, but Monday the 2nd is the official holiday for 2023.

I’m sure that many of you have taken off the entire week from Christmas to New Year’s, so you’ll be able to extend the weekend by a day. Consider taking off on the Tuesday after as well in order to avoid a likely busy travel day. Before the clock strikes midnight, make sure any remaining accrued vacation days are either taken at the end of 2022 or properly rolled over into 2023. Ask yourself if it’s a good idea to be rolling over vacation days or avoiding this time-off deprivation trap.

Monday, January 16, 2023 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

MLK Day is the first official holiday in 2023 in the USA after Christmas and New Year’s break. Since it comes so close to the previous holiday period, it isn’t likely to be a popular travel weekend. Still having a 3-day weekend in the middle of winter is still an opportunity to take time off from work. It shouldn’t require a lot of advanced planning so you can wait until the last minute to check for local travel deals.

A staycation is recommended if you want to save on the costs of a hotel. Finding a nearby tourist attraction is one idea for the off-season. It will also be much quieter in major cities in January, so consider a shopping or cultural day trip or weekend.

Of course it would be appropriate and educational to take a moment to remember Martin Luther King, Jr and the civil rights movement he led. Search your community events calendar as there may be special events scheduled like history lectures or art exhibits or even at your local library. Also seek out national commemorative events that are broadcast online for the public to stream from home.

Monday, February 20, 2023 – President’s Day

When I grew up there was a separate holiday for both Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays. They weren’t born on the same day! Over the years they merged into what is known as Presidents Day since there are many leaders we should be thankful for. Regardless, it is a national holiday in America and offers a three-day weekend in February. So what can you do to celebrate this holiday? Well first if you have kids consider turning the day into an American history lesson. Watch a documentary about a former president or seek out a national historic site to see history in person.

Like the MLK day in January, there isn’t a lot of travel around President’s Day in February since it’s still winter and very cold in most parts of the country. You never know when an unexpected snow or ice storm will ground flights across many parts of the country. You can still plan for a a weekend road trip or take a ride to a nearby city to act like a tourist for the day. There are always lots of sales on during this holiday so go spend some presidents!

Monday, May 29, 2023 – Memorial Day

Finally when we get to the Memorial Day holiday, there is a feeling that the spring and summer holidays have arrived. Of course school breaks such as spring break and the traditional Easter holiday comes before Memorial Day. However there are no official national holidays in the U.S. in March or April. Spring break varies and is a school or university holiday and Easter is a religious holiday which you may get at work.

It pays to plan ahead well in advance if you want to take a vacation during the month of May. This holiday is meant to be a solemn period to remember the war dead; however the real meaning of Memorial Day is often overlooked as families vacation from coast to coast. Try to take a moment to at least honor people who served our country in war. Perhaps a family member that you haven’t thought about in a long time.

With a Monday holiday you can choose to take 4 of your earned vacation days to have the entire week off for a maximum of 9 days off in a row. Or you can take off the previous week and return on the Monday if you need to return to your office promptly. Given the warm weather it is a popular time for an outdoor vacation. If you need to fly or wish to take a cruise, early in the year is when you should start making booking decisions.

Monday, June 19, 2023 – Juneteenth (Emancipation Day)

The newest holiday on the U.S. holiday calendar is Juneteenth which first appeared on June 17, 2021. Actually it’s been celebrated since news of the emancipation finally reached Galveston, Texas in 1865. This new federal holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, though it has been a state holiday in Texas since 1980. Many other states followed over the years. Juneteenth is always on the 19th of the month but this year it is 3-day weekend for government workers and most full-time employees across the country.

The holiday happens around the end of the school year and not long before the anticipated 4th of July festivities. So you will have to compare your work and school calendars to see if it makes sense to extend this 3-day weekend into a full week or two of vacation. If you plan to stay close to home on the Independence Day, this week in June could be a good time for a big trip. Since it’s a new holiday it is hard to predict if this date will turn into a popular day to travel throughout the 50 states.

Regardless, do take a moment to read up on the history of Juneteenth and the important reasons why it became the 11th holiday recognized by the U.S. federal government last year.

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 – Independence Day

When it comes to holidays where food is a major part, I think there is a tie between the 4th of July and Thanksgiving. This biggest summer holiday is all American! It doesn’t matter whether you spend it in your backyard around the BBQ, at a park to watch the fireworks, or on vacation anywhere in the USA. Since kids are off for the summer school holidays, it is an extremely popular time to travel. Independence Day falls on a Tuesday for 2023. So you won’t have a 3-day weekend unless you take an extra vacation day on the Monday to make it a 4-day weekend. Why not?!

The possibilities for a summer vacation around the 4th of July are many. Taking advantage of the free day off is just a start. To enjoy the spirit of the independence day holiday, plan a trip to a city that rolls out the red, white and blue carpet or visit a Revolutionary War historic site. There are always numerous street parades, fireworks displays, and American food festivals to choose from sea to shining sea. To find out, search Google for a city tourism site and view the event or festival calendar. Summer hotel rates will be high so you might want to browse hotels and make a flexible booking as soon as possible.

Monday, September 4, 2023 – Labor Day

Ahhh, … a day off from work designed specifically for working people. Who doesn’t deserve a national holiday that thanks us for contributing our time and effort for the greater good. That’s the historical purpose of the Labor Day holiday at least. Not so long ago there were few limits on working hours, no paid time off, child labor, and harsher working conditions. Now Americans enjoy on average 11 paid holidays per year along with the possibility of floating religious holidays and observances.

As Labor Day is the first Monday in September, it is considered the end of the summer holiday period though it’s not quite autumn yet! Kids are going back to school and work gets busier after the peak summer season in July and August. Like with most 3-day weekends, it makes sense to try to avoid travel on the Friday and Saturday as well as returning on the Monday. Add one or two vacation days to enjoy a more relaxed trip. Better yet, take the whole week off if you your work and family schedule allows. Since Labor Day is a popular time to visit beaches, national parks, and lakefront recreation areas, consider planning a trip off the beaten path to avoid the crowds.

Monday, October 9, 2023 – Columbus Day

US Indigenous People’s Day (US State holiday)

Many of you grew up celebrating Columbus day and recall the history lessons in elementary school about the incredible discovery of America. It makes for a great story, not just about Christopher Columbus but all the explorers who sailed across the ocean. Of course as times change we realize the story is a lot more complicated and tragic when you think about the native American story. That is a big reason why so many states have moved from celebrating Columbus Day to what is called Indigenous People’s Day. They are two sides to the same complex founding history of America.

Hopefully your employer is giving you a day off for Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day in October. It’s not as common as it used to be, but it’s nice to have a three-day weekend in the busy working period from Labor Day until Thanksgiving. Since it is not too cold or winter-like in October, it can be a excellent and scenic time to plan a vacation.

Saturday, November 11, 2023 – Veterans Day

Observed: Friday, November 10, 2023

For 2023, Veterans Day officially falls on a Saturday which feels unusual for a U.S. commemoration event. To make up with a day off, the observed holiday is on the Friday before. This makes for a rare 3-day weekend that starts on a Friday instead of ending on a Monday. As you know, this patriotic holiday is there to honor all veterans who fought in war both at home and abroad. The origin of the Veterans Day holiday goes back to the end of World War I and has been on the U.S. calendar ever since.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it isn’t necessarily a popular time to travel. However it is still a good opportunity to take a short vacation before winter arrives and before the upcoming holiday rush. Consider taking this three-day weekend for a spin by planning a driving trip to a nearby attraction as most will be open. Where ever you decide to go, do a search for unique points of interest along your route. Google Maps is good for discovering historic markers and scenic viewpoints. In addition, check with the city, county, and state municipal or tourism offices to find out what might be scheduled in memorial so you can thank those who served.

Thursday, November 23, 2023 – Thanksgiving

Friday, November 24, 2023 – Day After Thanksgiving (Black Friday)

Thanksgiving is probably the most American of holidays, after Independence Day of course, with food such a big part of what we remember and look forward to. Are you planning to cook up the traditional seasonal eats such as turkey with all the trimmings like cranberries, stuffing, mashed or sweet potatoes, and of course pumpkin pie? What else is on your Thanksgiving table? We all know the holiday is always held on the fourth Thursday in November. I grew up watching the Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC on television. Perhaps 2023 will be the year you get to see the floats live by planning a shopping trip to New York.

If you really want to take off on a big vacation in November and avoid the domestic travel crowds and expense, consider a visit to Europe instead. The weather is still quite pleasant in most countries, especially around the Mediterranean and independent travelers can find excellent deals. The U.S. dollar has been strong recently which is a major factor why Americans are taking more vacations to Europe. Travel Tip: Set up a flight alert on Google Flights or Kayak to receive emails when prices drop on airfares on your preferred routes and dates.

Of course if you decide to stay home or to visit family for Thanksgiving like most Americans, come up with a plan to take advantage of Black Friday. You might have gotten used to shopping online, but it is really not the same as going out in person and finding the perfect gifts for your family. Since the sale period has grown beyond just the Friday after Thanksgiving, pick another day to hit the city shops or suburban shopping malls. And as with all major holidays in the USA, add a vacation day or two before or after to avoid driving or flying on the busiest and most expensive travel days.

Monday, December 25, 2023 – Christmas Day

If you are reading this 2023 USA National Holiday list post at the beginning of the year, it will feel way too early to be thinking about Christmas. You can probably put off your Christmas holiday planning until the summer is over if you like. Are you granted both Christmas Day and Christmas Eve as holidays? Double check your HR holiday list for 2023 as Christmas Eve falls on a weekend this year.

If you have Friday, December 22nd off in lieu of the 24th, that means you’ll enjoy a 4-day joyful Christmas weekend. You can extend either the week before or the week after with 4 remaining vacation days to have a week off from work. Or if you have the paid time off left to use or lose, take 2 full weeks off to end the year in style! Even better, leave the week before Christmas to avoid the holiday travel madness. How about getting away to Europe for a bucket list trip to visit the top Christmas markets?!

Finally, your vacation rollover policy could come in handy if you rather postpone taking a few remaining vacation days until 2024. Make sure to check the PTO math as I’ve seen payroll make mistakes (or maybe you forgot to update payroll when you changed your mind about taking a vacation day) when calculating accrued hours in their system. Be smart when you allocate the rest of your valuable vacation and holiday benefits before the year is up!

Official State Holidays – Varies Across the 50 States

Depending upon which state you call home (or where you work if you cross state lines to get to your office or if you are working remotely) you may be entitled to additional holidays. These are called state holidays and are granted to state employees by law. Like federal holidays in the USA, it is up to your employer whether they offer these local holidays to full or part-time staff. Again, check your work holiday calendar for 2023 or employee portal to get the official list that applies to your job role or status.

Holidays and Observances in the USA

OPM.gov – Policy, Data, Oversight: Pay & Leave (2023)

Time and Date – Holidays and some observances (2023)

OfficeHolidays – Public Holidays in USA in 2023

Extra Holidays to Get or Take in 2023

Why limit yourself to the U.S. federal list of 11 holidays when the calendar is full of opportunities to commemorate, participate, and celebrate. There are holidays for every possible occasion, but here is my list of the most popular in the United States and in many countries around the world. At least consider the ones that occur on a weekday and therefore give you a reason to take a vacation day, floating holiday, personal day, or bonus day off in lieu.

The benefit of taking off non-official or non-traditional holidays this year is to avoid the crowds and high prices that often come around the major holidays. And it’s more fun to take off for many of these special days especially when planning international travel.

📅 Chinese New Year

📅 Groundhog Day

📅 Lincoln’s Birthday

📅 Valentine’s Day

📅 Mardi Gras

📅 St. Patrick’s Day

📅 Easter Weekend

📅 Cinco de Mayo

📅 Halloween

📅 Election Day

How to Track Your 2023 Work Holidays

Are you tracking your own holidays as well as vacation days, floating days, personal days, as well as rollover days off? Or are you relying on your HR or payroll system at work to track the numbers, assuming they are always accurate? The best way to get all the paid time off you earn and deserve is to track it yourself (and inform your payroll or benefits manager if there are any discrepancies). There are numerous ways including using a notebook, spreadsheet, or calendar – paper or online are both OK. You can give the Vacation Days Tracker Spreadsheet (template) a try which is free and published by the VacationCounts team every year (NOTE: now updated for 2023). It’s free and opens securely in Google Sheets.

How to Take Holidays Like Vacation Days

The only difference between holidays and vacation days is that holidays are fixed days off set by your employer (and the U.S. federal government) while vacation days are flexible (with approval rules set by your human resources department). Both are paid days off that can be enjoyed doing whatever you wish. That could be relaxing at home with family, going out with friends, traveling on vacation, or pursuing hobbies of any sort. This is your friendly reminder to treat holidays just like vacation days.

Instead of being disappointed that you only receive 10 or 15 days (2 or 3 weeks) of paid vacation each year at your full-time job (the average range being from 9 to 19 days of PTO according to BLS based on years of service), include the holidays in your total. Add the number of vacation days or PTO you will earn in 2023 to the number of paid holidays you have listed. In reality you have about an extra 2 weeks of time off from work than you think!

Unless you have floating holidays, like for major religious holidays or optional holidays, the holidays listed above are fixed on the 2023 calendar. In order to take the maximum number of vacations this year, plan a trip for every 3-day weekend. Can you do it?! By adding vacation days to holiday periods you can extend those 3-day weekends into 4-day or even a week of vacation. That is why you should get out your calendar today to pencil in potential vacation periods for every month of 2023 ⛱️