Google Earth vs. Odometer

[ptsmith24]

I plotted a round trip path to Savannah and back (my usual route 2 or 3 times a week) so that I could compare my odometer to it. The trip using Google Earth's ruler was approximately 91.4 miles. My odo read 94 miles after the trip. Is that close enough considering GE can't compensate the distance for hills? According to those numbers, my odo reads a little under 3% high. What does everyone think? Thanks ahead of time.

[SVOboy]

I would try a trip on the interstate with some mileage markers is hills are an issue,

[Sean T.]

hills and different lanes could cause 3% easy IMHO.

Think about a track (for running) how the person on the inside starts far back because they are always on the inside, so one lap for them is shorter than one lap for the runner on the outside.

If google maps records it as if you were driving down the yellow line, and you make lots of left curves, then google's distance will be shorter than yours.

[ptsmith24]

Originally Posted by Sean T.

hills and different lanes could cause 3% easy IMHO.

Think about a track (for running) how the person on the inside starts far back because they are always on the inside, so one lap for them is shorter than one lap for the runner on the outside.

If google maps records it as if you were driving down the yellow line, and you make lots of left curves, then google's distance will be shorter than yours.

I used the ruler..where you lay your own path. I tried to compensate by staying on the right side of the road. I even followed the normal path of a turn where appropriate. So, the inaccuracy is probably mostly from hills and curves where I didn't mark them exactly right.

[ptsmith24]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

I would try a trip on the interstate with some mileage markers is hills are an issue,

Thanks I'll try that on my next trip to Savannah (I'm trying to remember if the roads I take have mile markers...I don't recall seeing them. I will definitely try it out on my Atlanta trip in October.