United States public holidays and festivals: dates and closures

Federal holidays are the backbone of the US calendar. They are the dates when federal government offices, courts and post offices shut, and when domestic travel demand peaks. Everything else — banks, schools, shops, restaurants, museums, theme parks — varies by institution and location, so confirm the specific venue.

Use the table to see what each date means for a trip. Dates are fixed except where noted; a holiday that lands on a Saturday or Sunday shifts for federal employees, so confirm the exact day for the year you travel. The table covers the 11 nationwide federal holidays; Inauguration Day (20 January, every four years) is a federal holiday only for employees in the Washington, DC area.

The reliable closures are federal: government offices, courts and post offices. Many banks and public schools also close, but this is not guaranteed across institutions — check your bank and your school district. That pattern matters most to travellers because it affects passports, visa appointments and anything that needs a government counter.

Shops are a different story. Large retailers, supermarkets, chain restaurants, pharmacies and most museums and theme parks often stay open on federal holidays, and some run holiday sales, but there is no nationwide rule: each venue sets its own hours. Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two days when closures are widest, and grocery stores may run short hours.

National parks mostly stay open year-round, but visitor centres, shuttle buses and ranger programmes can be reduced or suspended on holidays, and campgrounds and park lodges fill months ahead for Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Check the specific park's holiday schedule and book lodging and any timed entry first, then build the rest of the trip around it.

Some US events are big enough to shape a whole trip, and they come with the same warning: book lodging early and expect higher prices. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the classic example, with parades in the weeks before Shrove Tuesday; the date moves each year with Easter, so check it before booking.

In summer, music and food festivals fill city parks and fairgrounds across the country, from Chicago's lakefront to county fairs in the Midwest. Autumn brings state fairs, harvest festivals and Halloween events. Winter concentrates on lights, markets and New Year's Eve celebrations in the big cities.

Sporting and cultural calendars matter too: the Super Bowl in early February, the Indianapolis 500 around Memorial Day, and the Thanksgiving Day parades and college football games. None of these are federal holidays, but each one fills hotels and airports in its host city.

Separately, New England's autumn foliage is a seasonal natural event, not a festival, but it drives the same demand: weekend rooms in late September and October are scarce and pricier, so treat it as a travel-date constraint rather than an event with a programme.

If you want lower prices and quieter sights, avoid the long weekends: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Flights and rental cars are usually in highest demand in the days around them, and popular parks and beaches fill up. Fares are date-dependent, so check your specific dates rather than assuming any single day is cheapest.

If you want the festival atmosphere, do the opposite: book flights and lodging two to four months ahead, choose a base within walking distance of the event, and expect some streets to close. Check whether museums and attractions you care about run holiday hours, and keep one flexible day for the unexpected.

Also check state and local calendars. Some states observe extra dates, and cities hold their own events that can close roads or fill hotels. A quick look at the official state tourism site and the city's transit authority before you book saves surprises.

Holiday weekends are the worst time for a long drive: interstate traffic builds on Thursday and Friday afternoons and again on Sunday and Monday. If you are renting a car, reserve it early and confirm the pickup location's holiday hours, because some downtown offices close.

For anything official — a visa appointment, a passport errand, a government office — avoid federal holidays entirely. Many banks close too, though ATMs and card payments work as normal. Pharmacies and urgent-care clinics often stay open, but it is worth checking before you rely on one.

Travel insurance is worth reviewing before a holiday trip, especially if you are driving in winter weather or booking non-refundable festival lodging. Coverage terms vary, so read what is included rather than assuming.