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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Union
Half a day or a stopover on the way to Rockland: see the Matthews Museum, taste blueberry wine, then move on. Not a base.
Union is a small inland town in Knox County, 15 miles west of Rockland. It has a local history museum, a summer fair and a vineyard. Most travellers pass through on ME-17 rather than stay overnight.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (many attractions closed or limited hours)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–80 excl. bed · Mid $80–150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, Fire, Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Matthews Museum entry | $2 |
| Wine tasting at Savage Oakes | Free |
| Coffee at a local café | $2–4 |
| Lunch sandwich | $8–12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RKD · Knox County Regional Airport
- About 20 min drive; seasonal flights from Boston
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 1 h 30 min drive
Typical fares
- Rockland → Union, ME-17
- about 20 min by car
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is essential. ME-17 runs through town; parking is free and easy.
See and do
Known for
- Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage
- Union Fair and Maine Wild Blueberry Festival
- Savage Oakes Vineyard & Winery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rockland | ME-17 east, about 20 min | 20 min |
| Camden | ME-17 to ME-105/ME-52, about 25 min | 30 min |
| Vinalhaven | Drive to Rockland (20 min) then ferry (about 1 h 15 min) | 1 h 45 min |
| Owls Head | ME-17 to ME-73, about 20 min | 25 min |
| Rockport | ME-17 east, about 15 min | 15 min |
| North Haven | Drive to Rockland (20 min) then ferry (about 1 h) | 1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Union village
- A couple of B&Bs; limited dining options.
- Rockland
- 15 miles east; more hotels, restaurants and ferry connections.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the museum? | Where is the museum?where is the museum |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Museum and vineyard hours are seasonal: check before you go.
- No gas station in the village centre; fill up in Rockland or Augusta.
- Cell service can be spotty on the approach roads.
Very safe. Watch for deer on ME-17 at dusk and dawn.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Union yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage
- Union Fair and Maine Wild Blueberry Festival
- Savage Oakes Vineyard & Winery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Union (Maine), revision 4983119 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4983119
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Union
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, Fire, Ambulance911
Nearest consulates in Boston or Portland (check).
No public transport within Union; a car is required.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/union-maine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.