Drive or Fly: Union, ME to Vinalhaven, ME?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for RKD–RKD. At 31 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 41m

Distance

31.9 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

13 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 43m

3m in the air

Air Distance

25 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, ME → RKD 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RKD → Vinalhaven, ME 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Union, ME RKD — Knox County Regional Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

Vinalhaven, ME RKD — Knox County Regional Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RKD and RKD. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 39m

1h 15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

FlixBus N2615

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, ME → Augusta (Concord Coach Lines) (UGU6) 42m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 75m

Arrival 10m

Bangor Park & Ride (BGV6) → Vinalhaven, ME 77m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From UGU6 — Augusta (Concord Coach Lines) 28 mi, ~42m drive

To BGV6 — Bangor Park & Ride 51 mi, ~77m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 5 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 41m	2h 43m	3h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$6
Carbon footprint	13 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Union, ME to Vinalhaven, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.