Ticket to Ride Destination Ticket Rules: Drawing, Keeping & Negative Points
Destination Tickets create Ticket to Ride’s long-term objectives. You score their printed value if the two cities are connected by your own continuous route at the end of the game; otherwise you lose that value.
Starting Destination Tickets
During setup, players receive a starting set of Destination Tickets and must keep the minimum number specified by the base-game rules. Any tickets returned during setup go back according to the rulebook’s setup instructions.
Drawing more tickets during the game
Instead of drawing Train Car cards or claiming a route, you may use your turn to draw new Destination Tickets.
In the standard USA game, draw 3 tickets and keep at least 1. You may keep 2 or all 3 if you want.
Where do returned tickets go?
Tickets you choose not to keep are returned to the bottom of the Destination Ticket deck.
Are your tickets secret?
Yes. Keep your retained Destination Tickets hidden from the other players until final scoring.
Can you discard a ticket later?
No. Once you decide to keep a Destination Ticket, you keep it for the rest of the game.
How do completed tickets score?
If your trains create a continuous connection between the two named cities, add the ticket’s printed value at final scoring.
What happens to incomplete tickets?
Subtract the printed value of each incomplete ticket from your score.
Can one route complete multiple tickets?
Yes. The same claimed routes can contribute to any number of Destination Tickets as long as each ticket’s two cities are connected by your network.
Related guides
Official source
Rules checked September 2026.