Welcome to our guide on how to hack your paid time off (PTO) for 2026: the United States edition.

If you’re unfamiliar with this series, it’s all about helping you maximise your holiday allowance when it resets for the new year, creating more time for adventure - whether that’s crossing deserts on foot, winding through mountain ranges or cruising down rivers surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest.

It's a simple trick which can make your paid time off work harder for you...

We never feel more alive than when we’re out exploring the world, but if you work full-time, the amount of paid time off you can take will be a limiting factor.

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Unfortunately we can’t promise to sweet talk your boss into giving you more time off work. Sorry. We hope you already have a boss who lets you out for snow days and cheers when you climb up a mountain. But what we can offer is a simple trick which can make your allocation work harder for you. Basically, it's all about choosing your travel dates wisely, so that they match up with national holidays.

Of course, how much paid time off you get from your employer is the big variable here. But regardless, this concept works even with one paid day off. The average US worker gets around 10 days of paid leave, so using them wisely is essential.

There are 11 federal holidays in the USA for 2026, as listed by the government:

  • Thursday, 1 January (New Year’s Day)
  • Monday, 19 January (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
  • Monday, 16 February (Presidents’ Day)
  • Monday, 25 May (Memorial Day)
  • Friday, 19 June (Juneteenth National Independence Day)
  • Saturday, 4 July (Independence Day - observed Friday 3 July)
  • Monday, 7 September (Labor Day)
  • Monday, 12 October (Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day)
  • Wednesday, 11 November (Veterans Day)
  • Thursday, 26 November (Thanksgiving)
  • Friday, 25 December (Christmas Day)

Here’s how to turn those dates into adventure-packed breaks using PTO.

January

Look, we love a New Year's Resolution as much as the next person, but rather than setting yourself a target like 'going to the gym more', why not push your comfort zones a bit further? How about spending New Year in Namibia? Or heading off early in the month to raft through Patagonia or visit Arctic Norway?

Federal holidays in January 2026: Thursday 1 January (New Year's Day) and Monday 19 January (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

Days away from the office: 9 (27 Dec-4 Jan, or 17-25 Jan)

Days to take off work: 29-31 Dec, 2 Jan (4 days off) or 20-23 Jan (4 days off)

Adventure ideas for January 2026:

February

Make the shortest month of the year the most memorable, by booking a big adventure. See Sri Lanka in style, take that Scottish Highland adventure you've always dreamed about and learn winter skills, or get away from the cold on the ultimate adventure through Rwanda, or on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Federal holidays in February 2026: Monday 16 February (Presidents' Day)

Days away from the office: 9 (14-22 Feb)

Days to take off work: 17-20 Feb (4 days off)

Adventure ideas for February 2026:

May

Sure, you could stay at home in May. Or you could go see Machu Picchu or Petra. Or go hiking on the Via Dinarica trail in Bosnia. Or explore Uzbekistan or see orangutans in Borneo? Your call.

Federal holidays in May 2026: Monday 25 May (Memorial Day)

Days away from the office: 9 (23-31 May)

Days to take off work: 26-29 May (4 days off)

Adventure ideas for May 2026:

June

If you’ve always wanted to visit the mountains of Europe, June is a mighty nice time to do so. Get yourself to the Alps to take on the legendary Tour du Mont Blanc hike, or learn to rock climb in Spain. The Lofoten Islands of Norway are drenched in daylight, and further afield, Kyrgyzstan provides pure wilderness.

Federal holidays in June 2026: Friday 19 June (Juneteenth)

Days away from the office: 9 (13-21 June)

Days to take off work: 15-18 June (4 days off)

Adventure ideas for June 2026:

July

Summertime, and the living is easy. Head to paddle the little-known Stockholm Archipelago in Sweden, where islands sprawl into the distance under long-lasting sunlight. E-bike through Abruzzo, the garden of Italy, or take a canoe expedition across Scotland - paddling away from midges and into the glens.

Do promise us that you’ll remember what that Baz Luhrmann song says, though - always wear sunscreen.

Federal holidays in July 2026: Friday 3 July (Independence Day observed) and Saturday 4 July (Independence Day)

Days away from the office: 9 (27 June-5 July)

Days to take off work: 29 June-2 July (4 days off)

Adventure ideas for July 2026:

September

September is shoulder season, meaning that in a lot of usually very busy places (like the Italian Dolomites, and the coastal towns of Albania), you’ll get less crowded trails, more relaxed locals and cooler weather than you’d have got in August. All of which is to say that it’s an ideal month to travel.

Federal holidays in September 2026: Monday 7 September (Labor Day)

Days away from the office: 9 (5-13 Sept)

Days to take off work: 8-11 Sept (4 days off)

Adventure ideas for September 2026:

October

October is Autumn in Europe. Travel and you’ll find yourself walking through leafy forests, coloured amber, red and yellow for the season. Mountain landscapes never look more beautiful than when framed in this palette, though do be sure to bring a rain jacket with you. The perfect month to walk, cycle and gorge on local delicacies.

Federal holidays in October 2026: Monday 12 October (Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day)

Days away from the office: 9 (10-18 Oct)

Days to take off work: 13-16 Oct (4 days off)

Adventure ideas for October 2026:

November

Most people don’t think of travelling in November. That’s because it tends to be quite cold, quite dark and the weather can be somewhat miserable. But that is certainly not the case everywhere. Not in Thailand, or the Maldives...

Federal holidays in November 2026: Wednesday 11 November (Veterans Day) and Thursday 26 November (Thanksgiving)

Days away from the office: 9 (7-15 Nov or 21-29 Nov)

Days to take off work: 9-10, 12-13 Nov (4 days off) or 23-25, 27 Nov (4 days off)

Adventure ideas for November 2026:

or

December

December is Christmas! And you couldn’t possibly go away on an adventure vacation over Christmas, could you? Of course you could. If you want to...

Federal holidays in December 2026: Friday 25 December (Christmas Day)

Days away from the office: 9 (19-27 Dec)

Days to take off work: 21-24 Dec (4 days off)

Adventure ideas for December 2026:

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Stay safe out there: Our guides are well-researched, short summaries, designed to inspire but not for navigational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee completeness. Outdoor activities come with serious risk, and individuals must take full personal responsibility for their own safety. Much Better Adventures, and the authors, disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of the information from this article.