Another useful tool can be found with Bing Maps: the "Bird's Eye" view option. I like to check my map directions with Bing images in general because they use different aerial photography than Google. I find Bing has mostly if not all its imagery taken from winter photography. In an area like the greater D.C. region, where trees often obscure roads and paths in GMap or G.E. images, Bing reveals the route with greater clarity. The "Bird's Eye" view adds some perspective, which I find useful, too. Unfortunately, its measurement tool is essentially worthless except for estimating driving distances.