Thanksgiving is the one federal holiday that always falls mid-week, so it is the easiest autumn long weekend to stretch. In 2027 it lands on Thursday 25 November 2027. Here is how to turn it into four days, a full week, or more, using only the federal calendar.
When is Thanksgiving 2027?
Thanksgiving Day is always the fourth Thursday of November. In 2027 that is Thursday 25 November 2027. The Office of Personnel Management lists it as a federal holiday for federal employees (OPM federal holidays). Private employers choose whether to give it, and most do.
One day of PTO: the classic four-day weekend
If your employer already gives the Friday after Thanksgiving, you already have four days off and you need no PTO. If not, one day on that Friday is the single highest-value autumn request:
Book off: Fri 26 Nov 2027.
Bank holidayBook offWeekend
Ask early. That Friday is one of the most requested PTO days of the year, and many teams hit the same idea at once.
Three days of PTO: the full Thanksgiving week
Book the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and you close the office for the whole week:
Book off: Mon 22, Tue 23 and Wed 24 Nov 2027.
Bank holidayBook offWeekend
That is 6 days off in a row for three days of leave. If the Friday is already a company holiday, you only need the three weekdays before it.
Pair it with Veterans Day
Veterans Day is Thursday 11 November 2027, also a Thursday, two weeks earlier. One day of PTO lets you book 1 day off (Fri 12 Nov 2027) and get 4 days off in a row (Thu 11 Nov – Sun 14 Nov 2027). It is a federal holiday, but private employers decide whether they give it, so check your company list first. Two Thursdays in November means two cheap four-day weekends if you can spare two Fridays of PTO.
Does your state give the Friday too?
The Friday after Thanksgiving is not a federal holiday, but many state governments close on it (often called Day After Thanksgiving). State holiday pages on this site show whether your state counts it. Private employers still set their own calendars, so treat a state closure as a hint, not a promise.
What US law says about Thanksgiving PTO
There is no federal law that requires paid holidays or paid vacation. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require pay for time not worked (US Department of Labor). Thanksgiving is a federal holiday for federal employees; everyone else depends on the employer handbook. Confirm which days your company closes before you book travel.
Frequently asked questions
When is Thanksgiving 2027 in the US?
It is Thursday 25 November 2027, the fourth Thursday of November.
How many days of PTO do I need for Thanksgiving week 2027?
One day makes a four-day weekend if the Friday is not already off. Three days cover the full week: book 3 days off (Mon 22, Tue 23 and Wed 24 Nov 2027) and get 6 days off in a row (Sat 20 Nov – Thu 25 Nov 2027).
Is the Friday after Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
No. It is not on the OPM federal list. Many state offices and private employers still close that day.
Can I connect Thanksgiving to Christmas leave?
Yes, but they are a month apart, so you would spend a lot of PTO on the weeks in between. Most people treat Thanksgiving as its own break and save leave for Christmas, when Friday 24 December 2027 and the New Year observed day sit close together.
Plan your own Thanksgiving 2027
Open the US plannerBest days to take off in 2027 (US)
How we work it out. Every date and number here comes from our holiday data, checked against official government sources (see About). Always confirm days off with your employer.