>can't go around armed because of the states we pass through
While it's quite a labyrinth of laws, it is possible to travel even with prohibited firearms in a particular state. The "Firearms Owners Protetion Act" of 1986 provides transport thru any state regardless of their laws if the firearms's being transported are legal in the state of origination and destination. It will require lockable storage out of the reach of driver and passengers and a knowledge of the current state laws.
"One of the law's provisions (codified in section 926A of title 18 of the U.S. Code) was that persons traveling from one place to another have a defense for any State firearms offense in a state that has strict gun control laws if the traveler is just passing through (short stops for food and gasoline), provided that the individual is not otherwise prohibited from possession of a firearm, the firearms and ammunition are not readily accessible, that the firearms are unloaded and, in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment, the firearms are located in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.[11][12]
This section has also been interpreted to protect air travel.[13][14]"
https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_Owners_Protection_Act