2026 holiday dates: Thanksgiving Thu, Nov 26 · Black Friday Fri, Nov 27 · Christmas Eve Thu, Dec 24 · Christmas Day Fri, Dec 25 · New Year’s Eve Thu, Dec 31 · New Year’s Day Fri, Jan 1, 2027.
Holiday transit service by city
| Transit system | Thanksgiving Day | Christmas Day | New Year’s Day | Days around the holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City subway & buses (MTA) | Sunday schedule (subway still runs 24 hours) | Sunday schedule | Sunday schedule | Wed before: regular weekday. Fri after: weekday subway, reduced weekday buses. Extra early trains for the Macy’s parade. |
| LIRR & Metro-North (NY) | Weekend/holiday or special schedule + parade trains | Holiday/weekend schedule | Holiday/weekend schedule | Wed before: extra early-afternoon “getaway” trains from Penn Station and Grand Central. Metro-North Fri after: enhanced Saturday schedule. |
| NJ Transit | Trains: weekend/major holiday schedule. Buses: mostly Sunday | Weekend/holiday schedule | Weekend/holiday schedule | Wed before: early getaway trains from about 2 p.m. Fri after: enhanced weekend schedule. |
| Chicago CTA (L trains & buses) | Sunday schedule | Sunday schedule | Sunday schedule | Trains run as normal on the Sunday timetable; the Blue and Red Lines still run 24 hours. |
| Chicago Metra | Sunday/holiday schedule; no Heritage Corridor, North Central or SouthWest Service | Sunday/holiday schedule (same three lines closed) | Sunday/holiday schedule (same three lines closed) | Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: reduced schedules. In 2025 Metra ran free downtown trains after 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. |
| Washington DC Metro (WMATA) | Reduced Sunday-type service, opens later (6–7 a.m.) to midnight; buses Sunday | Reduced Sunday service, about 7 a.m.–midnight | Reduced Sunday service, about 7 a.m.–midnight | Day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve: regular weekday. New Year’s Eve: open late (to about 2 a.m. in recent years). |
| Los Angeles Metro | Sunday & holiday schedule | Sunday & holiday schedule | Sunday & holiday schedule | Fri after Thanksgiving: regular weekday schedule. |
| San Francisco Bay Area BART | Sunday service | Sunday service, about 8 a.m.–midnight | Sunday service, about 8 a.m.–midnight | Christmas Eve: regular weekday. New Year’s Eve: extended last trains around 1 a.m. (not to SFO/OAK). Parking free on Christmas and New Year’s Day. |
| Philadelphia SEPTA | Holiday (Sunday) schedule | Holiday (Sunday) schedule | Holiday (Sunday) schedule | Extra subway trains in the morning for the Thanksgiving parade; some buses detoured downtown. |
| Boston MBTA | Subway & bus Sunday schedule; Commuter Rail weekend schedule; no ferries | Sunday schedule | Sunday schedule | Wed before: regular weekday service with extra Silver Line SL1 trips to the airport. |
| Atlanta MARTA | Sunday schedule | Sunday schedule | Sunday schedule | Christmas Eve 2025 ran on a Saturday schedule. |
The general rules (almost everywhere)
- On the holiday itself (Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day), city buses and trains run a Sunday or holiday schedule: fewer trips, sometimes a later start.
- Some services stop completely, such as certain commuter rail lines, ferries, express buses and smaller suburban bus systems. Check before you rely on them.
- The day before Thanksgiving is a regular weekday, often with extra afternoon “early getaway” commuter trains.
- The day after Thanksgiving and the days between Christmas and New Year usually run weekday or Saturday-style schedules.
- Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are usually normal days, but some systems start reducing service in the evening.
- Parades and events (Macy’s Parade in NYC, the Philadelphia parade, Rose Parade in Pasadena on Jan 1) cause detours near the route.
New Year’s Eve: late trains and free rides
Many systems run extra or later trains after midnight on New Year’s Eve, and some offer free rides sponsored by local companies. In recent years DC Metro stayed open until about 2 a.m., BART ran extra last trains around 1 a.m., and Chicago’s Metra offered free downtown trains after 6 p.m. Announcements usually come in mid-December. It’s the safest way home if you’ve been drinking.
Holiday transit tips
- Look up the Sunday timetable for your route; that’s usually what runs on the holiday.
- Plan your last trip home carefully. Holiday evenings can have long gaps between trains.
- Buy tickets ahead in the app; station offices are often closed on the holiday.
- Going to the airport? Holiday airport lines can be long. See when to leave for the airport.
- Long-distance trips: see whether Amtrak and Greyhound run on the holidays.
Where to check live service
| City | Official source |
|---|---|
| New York | mta.info, MYmta and TrainTime apps |
| New Jersey | njtransit.com, NJ TRANSIT app |
| Chicago | transitchicago.com, metra.com, Ventra app |
| Washington DC | wmata.com |
| Los Angeles | metro.net |
| Bay Area | bart.gov, 511.org |
| Philadelphia | septa.org |
| Boston | mbta.com |
| Atlanta | itsmarta.com |
Questions
Does the subway run on Thanksgiving?
Yes. In New York the subway runs 24 hours on Thanksgiving, on a Sunday schedule. Chicago’s L, DC Metro, LA Metro, BART, SEPTA, the MBTA and MARTA also run, mostly on Sunday or holiday schedules.
Do buses run on Christmas Day?
In most big US cities, yes, on a Sunday or holiday schedule. Some smaller and suburban bus systems don’t run at all on Christmas Day, so check your local agency.
Is public transit free on New Year’s Eve?
Sometimes. Several cities have offered free or sponsored rides on New Year’s Eve evening, but it changes every year. Agencies usually announce it in mid-December.
What schedule does transit run on Black Friday?
Usually a weekday or enhanced Saturday schedule. For example, in 2025 NYC subways ran a regular weekday schedule and Metro-North ran an enhanced Saturday schedule on the day after Thanksgiving.