Had a great idea when I saw this, using Google earth/maps street view so you can run you players around their local area or major cities!

This was actually one of my first thoughts, where I might print out a map of the area, and part of the rp, would be them planning out and marking on the map where they would walk and get supplies, safely.

Makes sense to set this in your home town.

While I will start this in my hometown I doubt my players will stay long. Using Google Earth/maps will be very useful, of course as the apocalypse grows you can change the landscape as you see fit maybe some overgrowth or complete lack of such. No water where a map says there should be, etc.

Google maps has features that can aid the G.M. as "search nearby" and radius (which I use for raiding parties).