Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
Definitely look at the satellite view, often you can zoom in far enough to tell whether or not the road is paved, a definite issue in Appalachia. In my area, also, there are some inaccuracies in Google maps (roads are shown connecting when they really don't, roads have been realigned but the maps haven't been updated yet, etc.), and satellite/aerial pictures can help with that, too, especially if they're recent.
Unfortunately I find that Google's satellite view is not always up to date. If you look up the intersection of N Glebe Rd and Fairfax Dr in Arlington, VA, you see a photo that is very old. There's been a lot of development in this area over the last 10 years and none of it shows up in this photo. They overlay the names of businesses that exist today, but they're on empty fields, construction sites and parking lots that no longer exist.

Maybe this is the exception, but having no way of knowing which shots are current and which are out of date, I have to take it all with a big grain of salt.