Origin
Union, ME
Morning in Union on Saturday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, ME to Vinalhaven, ME
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
31.9 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Vinalhaven, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Union, ME to Vinalhaven, ME covers 31.9 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Rockland/Vinalhaven Ferry, Rockland Street, Heald Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.1 miles on Rockland/Vinalhaven Ferry. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
16 miles from Union, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 31.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 41m drive with frequent turns across 31.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Rockland/Vinalhaven Ferry is the longest continuous segment at about 17.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near ME 131 / South Union Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (ME 131 / South Union Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (ME 17; ME 235 / Heald Highway): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (US 1): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ME 131 / South Union Road
At end of road, turn left onto ME 131 / South Union Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ME 17; ME 235 / Heald Highway
Turn right onto ME 17; ME 235 / Heald Highway
Navigation decision point
4
13.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
US 1
Turn left onto US 1
Navigation decision point
5
14.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 1 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 1 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
14.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
Ferry Crossing Crossing Slip
Turn right onto Ferry Crossing Crossing Slip
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Rockland/Vinalhaven Ferry | 17.1 mi | 1h 15m |
| Rockland Street | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| Heald Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Lakeview Drive | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Common Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Rockland/Vinalhaven Ferry
— 17.1 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, ME and Vinalhaven, ME.
1
Start on Common Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Common Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto ME 131
224 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Union Road
3
Turn right onto ME 17; ME 235
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Heald Highway
4
Continue on ME 17
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
5
Continue on ME 17
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Rockland Street
6
Continue on ME 17
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Lakeview Drive
7
Continue on ME 17
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Maverick Street
8
Turn slight right onto North Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
9
Merge onto US 1
395 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 1
10
Turn left onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 1
11
Turn left onto Talbot Avenue
491 ft
·
28 sec
·
Talbot Avenue
12
Turn left onto US 1
175 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
13
Turn right onto Ferry Crossing Crossing Slip
385 ft
·
16 sec
·
Ferry Crossing Crossing Slip
14
Continue on Ferry Crossing Crossing Slip
119 ft
·
8 sec
·
Ferry Crossing Crossing Slip
15
Turn straight onto Rockland/Vinalhaven Ferry
17 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Rockland/Vinalhaven Ferry
16
Continue on West Main Street
275 ft
·
20 sec
·
West Main Street
17
Turn right
248 ft
·
18 sec
18
Continue on West Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 16 miles from Union, ME, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 31.9 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vinalhaven, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union, ME
This is one driving day of about 31.9 miles and 1h 41m.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Rockland/Vinalhaven Ferry for about 17.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16 mi from Union, ME · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16 miles from Union, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Vinalhaven, ME
The final approach into Vinalhaven, ME usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.14 one way
$10.27 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.65 | $11.30 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.11 | $12.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.04 | $14.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Vinalhaven, ME
Morning in Vinalhaven on Saturday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
26°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Rockport, ME
16 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
27 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Union, ME to Vinalhaven, ME covers 31.9 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Rockland/Vinalhaven Ferry, Rockland Street, Heald Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16 miles from Union, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (ME 131 / South Union Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (ME 17; ME 235 / Heald Highway): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (US 1): Navigation decision point.
The route from Union, ME to Vinalhaven, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Vinalhaven, ME
More from Union, ME
Explore more options from Union, ME or browse trips ending in Vinalhaven, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.