Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer (Virginia Atlas & Gazeteer)

User Review: - Good map for the back roads
This is the best Atlas/Gazetteer I've found around at least for the areas I travel and can vouch for the details. It's a great resource for those times when you need to get off the main roads and see where the back roads take you. This map has a lot of the small details that I was looking for, trail heads, boat ramps, camp grounds, wineries, ferries, waterfalls, etc. The topo lines are pretty easy to read and elevations are well marked for this style of map. It's also pretty easy to cross reference to your GPS unit.

What this map lacks are the details you need for in-town travel, and that includes downtown in the small towns. When the roads get too tight you're gonna need a different map because this one only has one size (1:150k or 1"=2.4miles) I also think they should have included phone/web contact info for their places of interest and a couple of blank pages in the back for notes. (Quick tip: I covered the inside back cover with post-it notes so I can take notes and move them to the page I really need them on.)

Quality of the book is decent and should last long enough. The book is a bit big (15.5"h x 11"w) so don't plan on keeping this one in the glove compartment!

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User Review: - Comprehensive but no macro-views!
We'll be using this atlas for an RV trip. Although we haven't yet done the trip, the maps look like what we need (detailed, topographic, forest/side roads). I will say that it's missing decent regional and statewide views. The Benchmark California Road & Recreation Atlas, Fifth Edition (Benchmark Road & Recreation Atlas)series does an excellent job of panning the state, and then drilling down. The Gazetteer series just has the drill-down. Makes it tough when you want to get a macro-view of your route.

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User Review: - Great as always
I have used the NC version of this book for years and due to metal detecting alot in VA got this version. It works great in laying out back roads and areas I have been looking at on computer based topo maps. Great product.

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User Review: - accurate maps
great product! these maps even show little dirt roads that are on private land! amazing!

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User Review: - Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer - Tons of content
This Atlas, like all in the DeLorme series of Atlas & Gazetteer references, are wonderful map resources. A wealth of information is included. If anything, the level of detail, coupled with the topographic information, may seem a bit too much at first glace (if you are new to these guides). But if you're willing to spend a bit of time with the maps, you will find these guides to be very useful.

In addition to the maps and the useful indexes and cross-references, these guides include listings or location sources for hiking, camping, fishing, recreation areas, unique natural features (waterfalls, bridges, caverns, natural areas, etc.), bicycle routes, horse trails, etc. And of course, GPS (Lat/Lon) coordinates are printed on each map.

Although the scale of these maps demand it, it would be nice if the guide book dimensions were a bit smaller. At 11" x 15.5", it's a good size book, so it's not quite as easy to stow in the backpack or the motorcycle storage area, etc.

Overall, these are excellent guides for any traveler or outdoor enthusiast.

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