If you go carry and camp with guns in your RV, do you know the rules about transporting firearms in vehicles? Let’s look at some basics about taking firearms on the road.
Kevin Stanchfield from Pasadena, CA., America, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
As we explore the backroads and cities of America, many of us feel safer carrying a weapon aboard the RV. And although federal law allows Americans to legally own a gun, that doesn’t mean it’s always legal to move around with them–even if our residence has wheels.
Can Your RV Get Searched for Guns?
- Automobiles can be searched without a warrant at any time by law enforcement officers if you are a crime suspect.
- If your RV is on the move and not hooked up to utilities, your rig is considered an automobile.
- Should law enforcement offers believe you were involved in a crime when you are on the road, they can search your rig without a warrant.
The clearest law about carrying guns in vehicles comes from the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968, which allows law-abiding U.S. citizens without mental or criminal convictions to transport a firearm on a “peaceable journey” across state lines.
State and local rules about carrying, storing, and concealing firearms laws differ from place to place.
Once you arrive at your destination, you could be breaking the local law just by having a gun in your RV. For example, hiking with a gun is illegal in America’s national parks. Some states require gun owners to have a permit. Others don’t. Many states allow concealed carrying of guns. Lots do not.
Unless you’re a lawyer specializing in firearms law, you’ll probably have a hard time interpreting these codes whenever you travel with a gun or other weapon in your rig.
Tips for Carrying Guns in RVs
Again, there’s no easy “yes” or “no” answer about carrying firearms in RVs. If you still want to travel with personal protection and you don’t have a concealed carry weapon permit, you can reduce your chances of violating firearms transport laws by:
- Carrying copies of your firearms certifications, ownership registrations etc. on board.
- Keeping all weapons unloaded, in a locked container far from the reach of the driver while the RV is moving.
- Storing ammo as far away from weapons as possible.
The decision of whether or not to carry guns in RVs is a huge one. Before you decide, do your research so you can be confident and informed about your rights when traveling.
Other resources:
Handgun Law in the U.S.
Traveling Cross Country With A Gun In Your RV
Armed with Information
Often called “The O.G. of full-time RVing,” Rene Agredano and her husband Jim Nelson hit the road in a fifth wheel trailer in 2007, after their dog Jerry lost a leg to terminal cancer. Sixteen years later they are still traveling and sharing their nomadic adventures at LiveWorkDream. As a self-employed wordsmith, Rene shares her expertise for many RV industry videos, publications such as the Escapees RV Club Magazine, and has authored numerous books, including the Essential RVing Guide to National Parks, and Income Anywhere, a guide to earning money on the road. She has been featured in global media outlets including the PBS documentary “NATURE: Why We Love Cats and Dogs,” The Guardian Sunday Edition, and the Dan Pink book Free Agent Nation.
Please read!
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/upload/Firearms-in-IMRparks2-2010.pdf
yes, brilliant idea, the link you posted!
There is a very good guide to buy that covers transporting Guns across various state lines. Most of the strictest laws are on the East Coast. New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, etc.
I have a concealed carry permit and I don’t camp in National Parks.
I am a Law Abiding Citizen and will always abide by the law. My Second Amendment rights will be protected at all costs.
Agree, good guide. However, due to the disrespectful nature of humanity these days, I too have a CC permit, carry it loaded EVERYWHERE I go, including the National Parks. Until I am sure there is no threat, I will not go anywhere in the US without being armed (and one in the chamber, ready to go).
An accident waiting to happen!
Yes , it is likely to be an accident waiting to happen for you to carry since you likely dont have working knowledge of guns. But I do and know how to protect myself and am fully licensed and educated. Dont lump us all together.
Well Frank, frankly speaking, there have been a lot of accidents with people who are very well trained in gun use. Especially hunters. But as far as being lumped together, you are, I think, a member of the human species. And being one means you are probably just as affected by everything that happens around you as the next guy. I doubt that you are infallible.
Dumb and illegal
Well they may find your weak ass tied to a pine tree, but my military trained ass will be defending myself and those around me with lethal force against scumbags. You worry about you and don’t tread on other people right to protect themselves and their families from evil!
I believe you are wrong about carrying weapons in National Parks. The card check rule allows you to carry weapons in National Parks. I verified that the last National Park I was entering. The ranger in Zion National Park verified that if the state the national park is in allows you to carry weapons you car carry in that national park.
Be sure to confirm rules and regulations about carrying weapons of any type before entering Canada. In general, Canadian laws are stricter about weapons than US laws.
It is actually illegal to transport a firearm across the Canadian/US border, Permit or not.
It is actually very easy to get a permit to take a long gun into Canada. Did it last year in about 5 minutes when crossing the border.
This is old info. Congress changed the law on guns in National Parks in 2010. If state law where the park is located allows a gun then the park must allow it.
Thanks, Zack — I was finger-on-the-button to check the info, as I thought some gun laws changed a few years ago. We all want to abide by the law, but if you make the decision to carry a gun in your RV, part of the decision-making should be reviewing at least the state gun laws in those states you frequent or plant to…
You are correct Zack. Firearms are allowed in National Parks as long as you comply with State statues. Federal law prohibits carry into federaly owned buildings like vistor centers, etc. carry or possion on some public lands are still prohibited such as Corps of Engineers properties.
State parks and national parks have park rangers who are highly visible and packing heat which is a deterrence to crime but it is nice to know you can still legally have a gun in an RV. They just found a couple buried in the sand dunes on a beautiful remote part of Padre Island National Seashore after they were missing for a couple of months. There RV was stolen. I have a problem with not being able to have one at a Corps of Engineers park. The ones I have been to are ran by unarmed civilians, the rates are very inexpensive ( good and bad), in disrepair and I have seen bad park etiquette more frequent. Honestly, I don’t feel that safe in them and the law about handguns is archaic and needs to be revised.
To the best of my knowledge the statement about national parks is not correct. In 2009 Congress passed a law allowing firearms in national parks with some stipulations (following state concealed carry laws for instance). Has there been changes to that law that have rescinded the right to carry in the parks?
If you have a concealed carry permit (CCW) your permit is recognized everyplace but California. National park or not..
This article appears to have been written for people who may skirt the law.
Every state? I’d like to know where you got you carry permit from! I know of NO state that allows carry in multiple other states. Not just California.
OR/UT CC cards with reciprocity allow me to carry concealed in over 30 states.
Guns are NOT illegal in National Parks. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/upload/Firearms-in-IMRparks2-2010.pdf
If there was a reason to get your firearm from its location in your RV to protect your family, unlock the container, find the amo, and load the gun I am afraid it would be to late to be of much use to protect you.
“If there was a reason to get your firearm from its location in your RV to protect your family, ” My firearm is always loaded and with me, legally, where ever I go, i.e. National Parks.
Carrying a firearm in your RV (vehicle) differs from State to State. For example, where I live, I am allowed to transport a firearm from or to the point of purchase or from or to a firearm range. If I choose to transport a firearm to go camping, I must get a concealed carry permit for my state even though I may have no intention to carry a firearm on my person. Transporting a firearm in a vehicle is considered concealed where I live and a permit or license is required.
You can reference the Different State laws….. http://www.handgunlaw.us/
Also, be aware of federal Law … 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms….. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title18/pdf/USCODE-2011-title18-partI-chap44-sec926A.pdf
As a licensed CCW holder with extra defensive handgun training, I carry my firearm everywhere I go. Except Canada. Don’t even try.
I’ve had two different policemen from 2 different agencies tell me ‘Conceal means conceal. Protect yourself and your family’.
I have my handgun fully loaded, one in the chamber and my head on swivel. No, I’m not paranoid. I love my wife and my life.
And no, Lloyd Stanton it is NOT an accident waiting to happen. Statistics show that having one in the chamber saves time and lives.
….do your research so you can be confident and informed about your rights when traveling.
What a completely worthless article! I came here to try to do some research and got nothing be personal opinion and anecdote. I would have thought RVLive a good source. Obviously not. I’ll try the NRA, they know a thing or two about guns.
if my rv/toy hauler is my legal primary residence,whats the law on having guns,with or w/o permit inside rv weather parked or traveling
I get so dam confused with these laws. I was traveling in my Motorhome in Illinois. I was pulled over by the highway patrol, when I open the door the officer asked if I was carrying a gun, I said it locked in a box, he stated to me THAT since I have CCW for Georgia, and my RV is registered is GA I’m allowed to Conceal carry. He stated the RV is MY HOME and you can carry a weapon which he advised me to do (Strange coming from an Officer) .
ALL thought he did said that I can’t step outside my RV with my weapon on me without having a CCW for Illinois, without having the Illinois CCW he could then arrest me.
Yeah, I’m always double checking state laws if I’m passing through a state, it varies so much that I’ve even made a small notebook with stuff 😀 Also remember I was picking up an order from online gun store https://gritrsports.com/ that was ordered to my parents house(didn’t want to ship it across country and it was like 200 miles from my parents). Had to double check what and how I am supposed to transfer it on the way back…