does anybody know if there are any permanently free sites with topo maps?

appreciate it guys. been lurking for a bit and just started posting.

Topozone.com- topo maps

Google.maps- Aerial photos

You can get all the topo's you want right from the source that made them at the U.S. Geological Survey site online.
It's at Free Maps From Uncle Sam

As cheap as the mapping software is today, it's worth having a set.
DeLorme Topo 5.0 on DVD rocks, they have some great mapping tools coupled with one of the best 3-D map viewing browsers I have seen.
Garmin's Map Source TOPO set is pretty good too. It's compatible with all their mapping GPS's...

The software is fast compared to the online sources and it makes all your maps available from a laptop at camp as well when you can't get online.

Jeff,
How about the link to the interactive map you posted on here earlier?

Hello JT,

I am guessing that you are speaking of the Landscape Images Gallery of southwest Alaska,
but have you seen thisMap of Florida Satellite Images?
The link will only show you southern Florida but there is enough information there you should be able to dig-up the rest of the state as well.

I don't mind paying for all the bells and whistles that companies such as Garmin and DeLorme have to offer in their software packages, but these outfits selling the USGS data boggles my mind. There are so many free online resources for this information I can't imagine ever paying for just base maps again.

Instead I pay for things such as a 13x19 printer so I can print these maps and of course with that comes the expense of the ink and paper.
But I do get custom maps on demand with my own routes and information embedded.

My most recent addition to my mapping software collection was the Garmin Blue Charts. It like much of the others is strong quality wise.

The following links will launch you to information
for each of these products offered for sale by
The GPS Store.Com. I have purchased a
couple of different GPS's and a few
software packages from them over the years.
I am going to rate them as a top notch online
company to deal with, their customer support
as well as their pricing is outstanding.

Garmin MapSource Topographic CD

Garmin Bluechart Offshore Marine Cartography

Delorme TOPO USA Version 5

Jeff,
Yep thats the one. I had forgotten that it was only for the Alaska area but thought it was a great site to visit anyway.

I use Google Earth, its free and works pretty well for most areas.
There is also the Microsoft TeraServer imagery site that is also a good source for Hi-Res satalite imagery. Both are detailed enough to show you your vehicle parked in your driveway. Microsoft TerraServer has a Topo overlay also but not in too great detail.