Many players mistakenly believe they only lose points for uncompleted routes, but the rules specify that points are lost if you do not successfully complete the route given on the Destination Ticket(s) you kept.
According to the Ticket to Ride Official Rulebook, points are lost if you do not successfully complete the route given on the Destination Ticket(s) you kept.
Regarding the penalty for Destination Tickets, the official rules state that points can be scored by successfully completing a continuous path of routes between two cities listed on your Destination Ticket(s). However, points are lost if you do not successfully complete the route given on the Destination Ticket(s) you kept. These tickets must be kept secret until the end of the game.
Example Play Situation
Alice holds a Destination Ticket for New York to Miami. At the end of the game, Alice has not completed the continuous path between those two cities. Consequently, Alice loses the points indicated on that Destination Ticket.
Common Misconceptions
Thinking you only lose points for the entire game score
Believing you can discard Destination Tickets during your turn to avoid penalties
Assuming all Destination Tickets must be completed to win
Quick Reference
You Can
You Cannot
Keep Destination Tickets secret until the end of the game
Do not reveal your Destination Tickets before the game ends
Score points by completing a continuous path of routes
Do not attempt to claim a route that is not on the board
Keep at least one Destination Ticket when drawing three
Do not ignore the penalty for uncompleted tickets
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official rule for Destination Ticket penalties in Ticket to Ride?
Points are deducted if the route on your kept ticket is not successfully completed.
Do I lose points if I don't complete my Destination Tickets?
Yes, you lose the points shown on any Destination Ticket you kept but did not complete.
When do I have to reveal my Destination Tickets?
You must keep them secret until the very end of the game.
Can I choose to keep zero Destination Tickets?
In some versions, you may keep none, but in others, you must keep a minimum number.
David Noah is a board game rules specialist and content creator who writes clear, dispute‑free guides for modern tabletop games. On this site, he focuses on answering the exact rules questions players argue about at the table, using official rulebooks, expansions, and tournament rulings as his primary sources. His goal is to turn confusing edge cases into simple, step‑by‑step explanations so you can spend less time debating and more time playing.
