Let the 2026 Travel Bug Race Begin…

TB race 2026

The 2026 SLAGA Travel Bug Race Begins in May! Send your trackable into the wild and watch the adventure unfold.

TB Drop-off: SLAGA Spring Picnic – April 25, 2026 (GCBKMAJ)

Official Race Start: GeoWoodstock XXII – May 23, 2026 (GCB7GWH)

Race Finish Line: One week prior to the January 2027 SLAGA Potluck (TBD)

The starting line is back in sight as SLAGA kicks off a brand-new Travel Bug Race season. This annual favorite invites members to send their travel bugs and other trackables out into the world, watching as fellow geocachers help them journey from cache to cache.

How to Enter the Race

• Purchase an unactivated travel bug or trackable (tags may be available at the picnic; please bring a token to attach).

• Attach a token (strongly encouraged).

• Activate the trackable and create a complete Travel Bug page.

• Bring your trackable unlogged to the SLAGA Spring Picnic for official entry.

• Your TB should be at zero miles at the picnic. Any mileage prior to the official GeoWoodstock drop will be subtracted so all racers start equally.

• All race TBs will be dropped simultaneously at GeoWoodstock XXII by Mark Derr (Hobbit Taz) or his assignee.

Race Core Categories

This year's race will use the same categories as last year.

• Total number of logs (excluding Notes, Discovers, and logs by the TB owner or SLAGA officers).

• Number of different geocachers logging TB moves (excluding Notes, Discovers, and logs by the TB owner or SLAGA officers).

• Number of photos added to the gallery (excluding photos added by the owner).

In the event of a tie in any category, total miles shown on the TB’s page (minus any starting corrections) will be used as the tiebreaker.

Each participant may enter only one Travel Bug and may win only one category. If a participant places in multiple categories, the second-place TB becomes the category winner.

Racing Tips to Improve Your Chances

• Include the word RACE (e.g., 'SLAGA Racing Travel Bug') in the TB name.

• Add a clear photo of your trackable on its page.

• Include race information on the TB page, including the January 2027 end date and categories.

• Attach a visible token; dog tags alone are often overlooked. (Geocoins are optional but may disappear more easily.)

• Add fun goals or missions for your TB to pursue during and after the race.

New to Travel Bugs?

A Travel Bug or trackable is a uniquely coded geocaching item owned by a player. Its tracking code allows its movement to be logged online each time it is picked up and placed in another cache, creating a shared adventure for everyone involved.

We encourage participants to prepare their trackables in advance and bring them to the designated SLAGA kickoff event for official entry. From there, the community takes over, moving the trackables along and adding stories to their travels.

Whether your travel bug crosses state lines or circles close to home, every log adds to the story. Throughout the season, updates and standings will be shared so everyone can follow the progress and cheer on their favorites.

So dust off those dog tags, prep your trackable, and get ready to race. Adventure, camaraderie, and plenty of logging await in this year’s SLAGA Travel Bug Race!

[Race Information provided by SLAGA member and Travel Bug manager, Mark Derr.]