Welcome to Vacation Year 2024! Have you starting thinking about your travel plans yet? A new year means you have 12 months of public, official, and company holidays to plan vacations around. This annual post covers the most common U.S. federal and national holidays for the calendar year 2024. To benefit the most, look up the holiday dates you’ll get and mark your personal or family calendar today.

Observe every holiday by rewarding yourself with an earned vacation

Scott, VacationCounts

So how many vacations are you going to take this year? Tracking your own list of holidays for 2024 can help you to take a vacation almost every month of the year. Taking more time off from work means you can enjoy a healthy (healthier) work-life-vacation balance. Keep reading to learn how to turn each paid holiday into a vacation opportunity. When you leverage a company holiday by taking vacation days before and/or after, you’ll save valuable time off to use later in the year.

Now is the time to make your 2024 New Year’s resolutions. Include a resolution to never take your company holidays for granted. They are equally important to your paid set of vacation days. The only difference between a holiday and a vacation day is that holidays are fixed on the calendar (except floating holidays of course). Learn about the history and difference between the words holiday and vacation and how their meanings came about around the world.

Official U.S. Labor Statistics – Holiday Benefits Factsheets

The National Compensation Survey results in the publication of a variety of insightful data about the paid time off reality in the United States. These results detail what percentage of employees by occupation, position and industry receive paid holiday benefits. The study covers several major holidays as well as days like Good Friday and the day after Thanksgiving. Scroll down to view each of the charts.

Government Survey: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employee Benefits – Holiday Profiles (2018 data)

And now, what you have been waiting for. The annual VacationCounts list of the holiday dates in the USA for 2024. Each listing includes the official calendar date and the commonly observed date if the holiday falls on a weekend or non-working day. In addition, you’ll get a brief history lesson on the holiday plus practical advice on how to leverage the date and time of year to take a vacation.

First Step: Review Your Company Holiday List

Before you get out your 2024 calendar to start planning trips, seek out the official list of holidays from your employer. It may be published in your HR or payroll portal, tacked to a board in the break room, or sitting in your inbox. Full-time workers in America typically receive all of the U.S. federal holidays but there are many exceptions by state and company. Besides the nationally recognized holidays, you may get one or two additional holidays for less commonly observed holidays, religious holidays, or to extend your break beyond the one day off. Since there is no legal requirement to offer paid holidays to private sector (as opposed to government) workers in the United States, your access to paid holidays will vary.

Do a quick comparison with this set of 2024 federal holidays from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management as well as the list for your U.S. state (search Google or ask ChatGPT for a bulleted list of state holidays where you reside). As you know by now, when a holiday date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the federal observed date will most likely be on the closest day before or after.

2024 Holidays and Observances in the USA

Monday, January 1, 2024 – New Year’s Day

With New Year’s Day on a Monday you have the entire weekend to anticipate the end of 2023. The beginning of 2024 starts off the week of the new year on a holiday. Since lots of people around the world take off the period between Christmas and New Year’s, the Monday is like a bonus day to recover from the celebration. Consider taking off on the Tuesday after as well in order to avoid a typically busy travel day.

VacationCounts Tip: Set a reminder on October 1st (start of the 4th quarter) each year to make sure you have taken or scheduled to take all of your vacation days before the the year is up. Rolling over some unused days may also be permissible, so check the HR docs well in advance for changes to policy. Some companies allow this but need employees to input rollover days in the HR system and possibly get manager approval. First ask yourself it it’s a good idea to roll over vacation days when you want to embrace work-life-vacation balance.

Monday, January 15, 2024 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a federal holiday in all 50 states, however it is not a mandatory holiday for many private sector employees. Check your company holidays calendar to determine if this paid holiday in on your list. The federal holiday is always observed on a Monday and strangely sometimes coincides with Robert E. Lee day in the Southern states.

For those of you who are fortunate to be given this holiday, it will be your first 3-day weekend of the year. An appropriate way to honor the man and the movement is to take a trip to an historic site such as in Memphis, the Civil Rights Memorial in Mobile, Alabama or perhaps the National Museum of African American History in Washington, DC.

Since the date is so close to the Christmas to New Year’s holiday period, it isn’t likely to be a super busy weekend for travel. Still having a 3-day weekend in the middle of winter is still an opportunity for a quick vacation. Whether you head out on a ski trip or turn it into a staycation, make the most of this holiday to start your year off right.

Monday, February 19, 2024 – President’s Day

You may call it President’s Day or Washington’s Birthday or even Lincoln’s day as he was also born around the same time. This day is America’s official celebration of all the US Presidents regardless of your political views. With a 3-day weekend in February your choice of what do to will likely be based on the holiday weather where you live.

So what can you do to celebrate this occasion? 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 sites to see history in person. There are places of importance in all 50 states that you can find by searching Google Maps to plan a U.S. President inspired road trip with your family. 

Monday, May 27, 2024 – Memorial Day

Hopefully the sun will be shining on Memorial Day which many think of as the unofficial start of summer. As you know this holiday is always on the last Monday in May. It has become an extremely popular time to take a long overdue break after the winter months. As you know the school break around Easter as well as Spring Break happens before before Memorial Day. However there are no federal U.S. holidays on the calendar in March or April.

First, do take a moment to recall the importance of this day to honor our military heroes who died while serving our country. Whether you have a moment of silence, discuss the history of war (and peace) with your family, or pick out a non-fiction history book to think about the past, remember why we commemorate Memorial Day.

As for travel, book early if you plan to use the Memorial Day holiday to take your first big vacation of the year. Consult your work and family calendars and get those vacation days approved as soon as possible. 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 or Tuesday if you need to be back on the job promptly. With warm weather predicted around the country, it’s a wonderful time for an outdoor trip.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 – Juneteenth (Emancipation Day)

The newest holiday on the U.S. holiday calendar to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States is called Juneteenth. This federal holiday officially began on June 17, 2021, but it’s been celebrated since news of the emancipation finally reached Galveston, Texas back in 1865! It has been a state holiday in Texas since 1980 but now covers all 50 states.

Juneteenth is set on the 19th of the month which this year comes right in the middle of the work week on a Wednesday. Fortunately you have three options if you want to turn this holiday into a vacation opportunity in 2024. Take off the Monday and Tuesday or ask to use PTO on Thursday and Friday to extend the holiday into a 5-day weekend. Even better if you can spare four of your hard-earned vacation days, plan a full weeklong trip this June.

Regardless of how you make the most of this holiday, take a few minutes to read up on the history of Juneteenth on the Smithsonian website.

Thursday, July 4, 2024 – Independence Day

July 4th is on a Thursday this year. What does that do to your home BBQ get-together or vacation plans? As this holiday moves around from year to year, you have to plan ahead to maximize your time off this summer. Do you take the entire week off to head off on vacation in the USA, Europe, or beyond? Do you only take the Friday to relax with a 4-day weekend. When it comes to summer travel, it’s never too early to look at flight schedules and airfares during this busiest time of the year.

Fortunately there are endless ideas for taking solo, family, luxury, adventure, romantic, … trips during the month of July. As it’s the biggest summer holiday in America, you might be tempted to stay home and make it a family, friends and neighbors tradition. If you decide on a staycation (such as a backyard-cation), it’s a smart idea to a vacation day on Friday (perhaps a floating holiday if you have any). You might be up late watching the 4th of July fireworks and want to sleep in the next day 😉

Still, July is also an excellent time to plan a big 1-2 week road trip to a national park, take a cruise from either coast, or plan a bucket list vacation this year. European vacations are also extremely popular in summer. My advice is to avoid visiting the European continent in August. For numerous countries it is the one month where residents take their annual holiday including Italy and France. To make matters worse, it can be the hottest month of the year.

To embrace the American Independence Day fully, plan a trip to a city that rolls out the red, white and blue. Consider visiting a Revolutionary War historic site or a city that hosts a parade with marching bands during the day and fireworks after dark. Search online for patriotic, food, and family festivals that are scheduled for the 4th of July weekend as an excuse to travel to a new place.

Monday, September 2, 2024 – Labor Day

Finally a paid day off for people who work to live. In Europe they have the May Day holiday (during the month of May of course), but in the United States and Canada it’s our Labor Day. This holiday comes with no rules other than to take the day off and make the most of your 3-day weekend. It’s always on the first Monday in September in North America. Depending on where you live, it may be the last opportunity for a summer vacation before kids go back to school. Check your local school term calendar (and for the place you’ll be visiting) to document the exact dates as many districts start up at the end of August.

As with most 3-day weekends, it will be less expensive and less stressful if you can avoid traveling on the Friday evening and Saturday morning and returning on the Monday. Flexibility is key. Even adding just one vacation day before and after will make your Labor Day weekend less rushed. Better yet, take the whole week or more off depending on work and school schedules. Since Labor Day is an extremely popular time to visit beaches, national parks, amusement parks, and outdoor recreation areas, consider planning a trip off the beaten path to avoid the crowds.

Monday, October 14, 2024 – Columbus Day

US Indigenous People’s Day (US State holiday)

Christopher Columbus day fills a gap in the holiday schedule between Labor Day in September and Thanksgiving in November. As a national holiday it has become much less important over the years since the notion of who “discovered” America is a deeply complex story. Many states have shifted the focus to combine it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day or to replace it entirely. Of a total of 11 official federal holidays, it is probably the least consistently celebrated across the 50 states.

As with all holidays, consult the list where you work to find out if you even have a day off in October. Federal government offices will be closed but in general most businesses and even the stock market remains open.

Hopefully your employer is offering a paid holiday for Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day in 2024. I can’t complain about a three-day weekend in autumn to enjoy a cool break between the busy working period from Labor Day until Thanksgiving.

Monday, November 11, 2024 – Veterans Day

Fortunately for those who appreciate when holidays that fall on a Monday, Veterans Day 2024 will be on a Monday thanks to the leap year. Last year it fell on a Saturday and required a make-up day off on the Friday before which was unusual. This American holiday honors all veterans who fought in wars both at home and who served abroad. Originally Veterans Day holiday marked the end of World War I and has been on the U.S. calendar ever since.

From my experience it can difficult to figure out what businesses and tourist attractions are open or closed on this holiday. If you are planning a trip and want to be sure a place on your itinerary is open, verify closer to the date and contact by phone or via social media as necessary. Since Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away, it isn’t likely to be a popular time to travel. However if you have enough vacation days remaining as the year comes to a close, book a quick weekend away this year.

Thursday, November 28, 2024 – Thanksgiving

Friday, November 29, 2024 – Day After Thanksgiving (Black Friday)

Thanksgiving holds a special place in our hearts and has become the ideal time for family to come together to share a bountiful meal and give thanks. It’s probably the most American of holidays, after Independence Day of course. It rivals Christmas in popularity, perhaps because it’s secular and followed by the biggest shopping day of the year. This November 28 will you be traveling to visit family for Thanksgiving, taking a leisure trip to get away from the crowds (why you should take a trip to Europe over Thanksgiving), or staying home to host your own dinner party?

Are you planning to cook up the traditional seasonal eats such as turkey with all the trimmings like cranberries, stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, and of course pumpkin (or is it pecan) pie? What else is on your Thanksgiving table? You might need to take a vacation day just to look up recipes, shop, and prepare for the meal of the year.

Some companies offer a bonus day after Thanksgiving by giving employees the Friday off as well. You can use this extra day to recover from the Thursday or to go shopping on Black Friday. For those who need to get where they are going by planes, trains, or automobiles this Thanksgiving weekend, try to save a few vacation days to avoid the crush of travel. Leaving 2 or more days before and returning 2 or more days after the 4-day holiday weekend will make a big difference. That is why you need to maintain a work vacation calendar in order to allocate paid time off to extend and maximize your paid holidays.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024 – Christmas Day

Christmas Day in 2024 is right in the middle of the work week. This makes it tricky to decide whether to take off the days before or after the official holiday. Many employees have Christmas Even off which falls on a Tuesday this year. If you already have Tuesday and Wednesday off, it’s a no-brainer to save up on of your vacation days for the Monday. Who doesn’t want a joyful and festival 5-day Christmas weekend as the year comes to a close?

Have you saved up (by accident on on purpose) vacation days to take during the last week of the year? It’s common to extend your Christmas holiday all the way to New Year’s Day on the 1st. Do the paid time off math to figure out if you’ll have enough days to allocate to your non-stop end-of-the-year holiday. Once you know how the vacation days will add up through the end of 2024, get your Christmas vacation request approved and on the office calendar.

As you are well aware it is essential to plan way ahead if you need to book travel, especially hotels and flights, during the Christmas break. I suggest that earlier in the year, set up a flight price alert on Google Flights to track the airfare pricing trends and to try to time the sales. Finally, well before Christmas arrives, set a calendar reminder double check your final vacation usage totals. How many paid days off will you have left to use-it-or-lose it in 2024? Rolling over a few vacation days into 2025 may be possible, but never assume that is always allowed and automatic without verifying.

Official U.S. State Holidays – Your State May Vary

Now that you have reviewed your national holidays and company holiday allocation, consider what state you call home. People who are considered state employees may have a slightly different set of holidays on the work calendar year. For everyone else in your state, it’s up to your employer (and local tradition) to decide which holidays to offer and which to skip. It is possible that you’ll be given an alternative state holiday instead of a federal one. That can happen in the case of Columbus Day for example. Your state might also recognize one or two additional holidays that are not designated as national holidays. One example is César Chávez Day in California. The only way to be sure is to consult your 2024 holiday calendar to verify the official list that applies to your job role and employment status like full-time or part-time.

Holidays and Observances in the USA

OPM.gov – Policy, Data, Oversight: Pay & Leave (2024)

Time and Date – Holidays and some observances (2024)

OfficeHolidays – Public Holidays in USA in 2024

Extra Holidays to Get or Take in 2024

Why limit yourself to the U.S. federal list of the same old 11 holidays when the calendar is full of opportunities to celebrate your own favorite secular, religious, historic, and just plain fun holidays. There are holidays to commemorate almost every possible event, reason or hobby, many of which are what I would consider made-up holidays. As a starting point, look over my list of the most common holidays and observances in the United States that are not official national holidays. Many other countries around the world also recognize some of these popular dates.

For the ones that are not happening on a weekend, consider taking a vacation day, floating holiday, personal day, or bonus day off in lieu. The clear benefit of taking off non-official holidays this year is to celebrate occasions that are important to you personally. Plus you may be able to avoid the crowds and high prices that often come around the major holidays that everyone has off.

📅 Chinese New Year

📅 Groundhog Day

📅 Lincoln’s Birthday

📅 Valentine’s Day

📅 Mardi Gras

📅 St. Patrick’s Day

📅 Arbor Day

📅 Easter Weekend

📅 Cinco de Mayo

📅 Flag Day

📅 Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

📅 Halloween

📅 Election Day

📅 Kwanzaa

As for a huge list of strange and unusual and just plain stupid “holidays” to celebrate (or laugh about), check out this Weird & Obscure holidays page.

How to Take Holidays Like Vacation Days

As you learned the only difference between holidays and vacation days is that holidays are fixed days off set by your employer (and based on the U.S. federal and state government designated closure days) while vacation days are flexible (with usage approval rules set by your human resources department and manager). Both are paid days off that can be enjoyed doing whatever you wish. This includes relaxing at home with family, going out with friends, traveling on vacation, or pursuing hobbies of any sort.

Instead of feeling disappointment on receiving only 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 holiday count in your total.

New Vacation Math: Add the number of vacation days or PTO you will earn in 2024 to the number of paid holidays you’ll receive. In total you’ll have on average 2 more weeks of paid time off from work than you think!

What about floating holidays or personal days? Some companies offer them to give workers added flexibility as to when to take off a day for personal or religious reasons. The usage rules vary, but they are just like regular holidays with day off flexibility rules. It’s possible that you may be able to combine a floating holiday with one or more vacation days. Therefore it pays to ask if they must taken on their own for legitimate holiday reasons or not. The same applies for sick days or employees with time off banks, called PTO. Find out how many additional “holidays” you can take on top of your normal vacation days.

What About Independent Contractors and 1099 Employees?

Unfortunately if you are not a full-time employee working for a company based in the U.S., in most cases you are not legally entitled to paid holidays or vacation days for that matter. Typically, contractors are not subject to the laws about pay and benefits which are in effect in your state and for hired workers across the country. It’s up to your contract agreement if you are not classified as a regular salaried or hourly employee.

The law is certainly a bit more nuanced based on a variety of job factors and employee classification, so it’s always best to ask a legal expert for advice. Employment law is a complex subject and varies by state. If you are in this situation, you definitely want to fully understand your rights to paid time off of any sort based on your status as a contractor or as self-employed. Here is an insightful article on the subject to help you understand the situation and questions to ask.

> Paid Time Off: Do Independent Contractors Get Holiday Pay? (deel)

How to Track Your 2024 Work Holidays

Are you relying on your HR or payroll system at work to track the numbers? I wouldn’t assume they are always accurate as costly mistakes can happen. The best way to get all the paid time off you earn and deserve is to track it yourself. This includes holidays as well as vacation days, floating days, personal days, and rollover days from the previous year? If you find a discrepancy in the time off hours or days accrued, make sure to report it to payroll as soon as possible.

There are numerous ways to track holidays and other time off besides using a paper calendar. Consider using a To Do list or note-taking app or simply the online calendar on your phone or office suite. For more complex tracking and analysis, utilize a spreadsheet to capture columns and line-items for when you earn and take time off. Make sure it all adds up!

Luckily VacationCounts has a custom-built for this purpose. Give the Vacation Days Tracker Spreadsheet (template) a try. It’s free to make a copy and use as a time off template in Google Sheets (part of Google Docs). Every year we update the tabs and formulas for the vacation and holiday calendar year (NOTE: last updated for 2023). Not only is it free, your time off data is securely stored in the cloud to use on any device as well as your laptop.

Taking Holidays Decreases Vacation Deprivation

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 as well as longer breaks with the addition of your accrued PTO. Make it your new year’s resolution to improve work-life balance by taking one more vacation this year compared to last year!

To take the VacationCounts challenge in 2024, plan a trip for every 3-day weekend on the holiday calendar. Can you do it?! By adding vacation days to holiday periods you can even extend those 3-day weekends into 4-day or even a week off on vacation. That is why you should pull out your calendar at the start of the year to pencil in potential vacation breaks for every month 🗓️🔁🧳✈️⛱️👍

Disclaimer: VacationCounts.com is for entertainment purposes only. This post does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice or similar employment advice. Please consult an expert if you have questions about your rights to paid time off benefits and holiday pay.