Road Trip from FL to MO

[EV1L]

I'll be going on a road trip with the wife through five states (FL, GA, AL, MS, AR and MO) to visit my birth place of St. Louis MO. Never been there, we'll be driving from Tampa to http://www.big-cedar.com/Default.aspx first and staying couple days there, then going to St. Louis and staying at the http://www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumstlouis/index.html

A total of 1,380 miles one way, worried and excited at the same time since I never had to drive that long before. We might rest in Memphis, before reaching our destination.

I would like some input about the the CCW laws, from members of the said states. Also, things that are worth going to and seeing in SL? Also, how is the weather up north? It's cooking down here in Florida.

 

[Bassamatic]

When my dad passed on two years ago he lived in Newport Richey outside of Tampa. Drove down there for a week to wind things up. Coming home I left on a Sunday morning at 6 AM and drove into my driveway at 1 PM that evening. Not sure of the miles but I was pretty dogged. Didn't plan to do that just sort of worked out that way.

Missouri is very gun friendly, as a matter of fact you can get fined for not having a weapon on you.

Don't know that much about St. Louis, people get sent there as punishment. Been there once and the Zoo was pretty cool, it was free admission, but the parking was a couple of bills. Nah, I'm kidding.

 

[onebadscrambler]

http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/news/concealed_carry.html
This link says you are GTG.
Bass, 7 hours to MO is pretty fast.

 

[RonJ]

Birthplace? Never been here?

Just don't make a wrong turn like Chevy Chase did in Vacation.

Hit the zoo, the Arch is awesome, national museum of transportation, the botanical gardens, Busch brewery etc.

 

[Bassamatic]

Bass, 7 hours to MO is pretty fast.

Scrambler...yeah, my post is a bit confusing I guess. I got home at 1 am THAT EVENING. That would actually be the next day. 19 hours.

 

[EV1L]

Bassamatic, sorry about your father, thanks for the suggestions.

onebadscrambler, go post, could I carry in restaurants that serve alcohol?

RonJ, lol.. not in the sense that I remember. Family moved when I was 2 yeas old, now I'm 24 years old.

 

[onebadscrambler]

onebadscrambler, go post, could I carry in restaurants that serve alcohol?

I do not know the other state laws, but in Fl it is recommended(as told by LEO, no statue I know of except for carrying in a bar) that you stay out of the bar area(No problems on the regular resteraunt side). No free chips and salsa at Chili's

 

[sparkgap]

Hello EV1L,

The Branson area is a world of it's own. But also there, is the School of the Ozarks with a large firearms collection. Leaving there you will be going through Springfield and that is the home of Bass Pro Shops and their great store. Also in the area is Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.

Lot's to see and do in St.Louis, the Downtown area is very safe in the day and also the evening.

The Arch and the Museum of Western Expansion
You can take a river cruse for an hour are so.
The Budweiser Brewery
The Old Cathedral
The Old Courthouse
Soldiers Memorial
Forest Park, Missouri Historical Society, Art Museum and the Zoo.

Lot's of gun shop in the County, check the yellow pages
Cabala's in Hazelwood
Casinos, both downtown and in the county.
Jefferson Barracks and the Military Cemetery.
Several other Historical Cemetery's in the area if that's an interest.

It's not everything, but it's a start.

If you like chocolate candy stop in Lebanon on I-44 at the Russell Stover Candies outlet store and pick up a 3lb box of Bloopers for $9.99. It's their best candy, but not perfect in appearance. I'd post a photo, but my box is empty.

Have a great trip, I love to travel our highways.

Bob

 

[EV1L]

I do not know the other state laws, but in Fl it is recommended(as told by LEO, no statue I know of except for carrying in a bar) that you stay out of the bar area(No problems on the regular resteraunt side). No free chips and salsa at Chili's

Sorry, I meant the law in Missouri. I know the law in Florida.

 

[EV1L]

Hello EV1L,

The Branson area is a world of it's own. But also there, is the School of the Ozarks with a large firearms collection. Leaving there you will be going through Springfield and that is the home of Bass Pro Shops and their great store. Also in the area is Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.

Lot's to see and do in St.Louis, the Downtown area is very safe in the day and also the evening.

The Arch and the Museum of Western Expansion
You can take a river cruse for an hour are so.
The Budweiser Brewery
The Old Cathedral
The Old Courthouse
Soldiers Memorial
Forest Park, Missouri Historical Society, Art Museum and the Zoo.

Lot's of gun shop in the County, check the yellow pages
Cabala's in Hazelwood
Casinos, both downtown and in the county.
Jefferson Barracks and the Military Cemetery.
Several other Historical Cemetery's in the area if that's an interest.

It's not everything, but it's a start.

If you like chocolate candy stop in Lebanon on I-44 at the Russell Stover Candies outlet store and pick up a 3lb box of Bloopers for $9.99. It's their best candy, but not perfect in appearance. I'd post a photo, but my box is empty.

Have a great trip, I love to travel our highways.

Bob

Thanks for the info, great post.

What's the speed limit on the highways? Also, any CCW laws that I should know?

 

[sparkgap]

Thanks for the info, great post.

What's the speed limit on the highways? Also, any CCW laws that I should know?

70 on the Interstates, 60 and 65 on others and these can change. Drive the speed limit in construction zones, the fines are very stiff in Missouri.

http://ago.mo.gov/Concealed-Weapons/Concealed-Carry-Reciprocity-Missouri.htm


http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Publications/Brochures/documents/SHP-863.pdf

And don't forget that the Arch Grounds and buildings are a National Park... illegal to carry.

Bob

 

[straightshooter1]

I live just across the Howard Franklin from you. I have made two trips in that direction in the past few months.

When you cross into Georgia on 75, and get a little farther into the state, there are a ton of construction areas with, IMO, wildly varying speed limits and the police, local, state and county all work it very heavily. Be careful about your speed. I was through there in May.

Again, IMO, don't take the bypass at Atlanta, just shoot straight through on 75. Many folks here say it is just as quick or quicker and that's been my experience.

Don't hit Atlanta at anything close to rush hour, though.

After you cross into Tennessee, I think I'd watch my speed. Our own TnDixieGirl got a ticket for 4 miles over the limit. I guess they don't have the 5 MPH warning requirement we have here in Florida.

The rest of the way is pretty easy. Doesn't look like you plan to hit Illinois, but if you do, they require the gun to be locked up and no round in the chamber. (I was chatting with an officer at Sparta about revolvers and he said unloaded-no rounds in the cylinder and locked in a box, trunk, etc.).

Have fun,

Bob

 

[cshoff]

Thanks for the info, great post.

What's the speed limit on the highways? Also, any CCW laws that I should know?

Yes, there are some CCW laws you should know about. First of all, if you plan on going to the Gateway Arch grounds, plan on locking your carry gun up in the car or at the hotel because the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is a National Park, and National Parks are still off limits to CCW at this time.

Also, here in Missouri, your FL CCW carries the exact same restrictions as a MO CCW permit would for a MO resident. If you click on this link: http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5710000107.HTM you can read the Missouri Revised Statute that spells out places where your CCW endorsement will NOT be valid. Most of them are places you likely won't visit while you are here anyway, but worth reading through just the same.

I would suspect that most LEO's you would run into here will know that your FL CCW permit is valid here in MO, but I won't guarantee it. You may want to print out and keep with you a copy of RSMO 571.030 which you can get here: http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5710000030.HTM

If you look through those statutes, you will see that in Subsection 4, it plainly spells out that your out of state permit is good here:

4. Subdivisions (1), (8), and (10) of subsection 1 of this section shall not apply to any person who has a valid concealed carry endorsement issued pursuant to sections 571.101 to 571.121 or a valid permit or endorsement to carry concealed firearms issued by another state or political subdivision of another state.

There is no duty to inform here in Missouri. In other words, if you are pulled over or otherwise approached by a LEO here, you are not required to inform him or her that you are carrying. That said, if they ask you and you fail to inform them, you can be subject to a fine. My advice is to keep your hands on the wheel, turn the dome light ON if it is dark out, don't make any suspicious moves, and repectfully inform them of your status when you hand them your driver license. Make sure if you do inform, you do it in a non-threatening way.

Here is a link to another nice, compact source of information you can print out and keep with you. This is the Missouri Highway Patrol's interpretation of our CCW laws, and it has been approved by our Attorney General. If you keep your cool and are dealing with a LEO that is not a jerk, he/she may be willing to read through it if there is a misunderstanding: http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Publications/Brochures/documents/SHP-863.pdf

Any questions on MO CCW law, just ask and I will do my best to answer.

 

[max]

If you come across Alabama on I-20, you might want to stop at the CMP in Anniston and pickup a Garand, carbine or maybe some ammo.
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[EV1L]

Wow. That's a wealth of information, greatly appreciated.

Anyone stayed at the private cabin logs at Ceder, or the Millennium hotel?

 

[sparkgap]

Wow. That's a wealth of information, greatly appreciated.

Anyone stayed at the private cabin logs at Ceder, or the Millennium hotel?

No, but I'll bet you wont be disappointed, Big Ceder Lodge was built by the guy that started Bass Pro... I think. There are some really first class shows in Branson and it's very family friendly. I'd bet you could spend a week in Branson, Silver Dollar City, Lake Tanecomo (SP) and Table Rock Lake and still only see half of the things to do.

Oh yes, don't be disappointed if the temp is 95 and so is the humidity.

If your a baseball fan, try and make a Cardinal game in their new stadium, you will find Cardinal fans and other folks from Missouri very friendly. And never say the word Chicago at a Cardinal game. You can walk there from your hotel. You can also walk to the Arch Grounds, the Old Courthouse and the Old Cathedral.

Bob

 

[onebadscrambler]

If you like chocolate candy stop in Lebanon on I-44 at the Russell Stover Candies outlet store and pick up a 3lb box of Bloopers for $9.99. It's their best candy, but not perfect in appearance. I'd post a photo, but my box is empty.

There is a Russel Stover Outlet on state road 44 in Wildwood just off I-75 here in Florida if you would like to pick some up for your trip.

 

[liamsw]

Wow. That's a wealth of information, greatly appreciated.

Anyone stayed at the private cabin logs at Ceder, or the Millennium hotel?

We stayed in one of the big lodges at Big Cedar last summer and loved it. we rented a pontoon boat to explore the lake and do some swimmng which was fun - but if you want to do this, see if you can reserve it now as we were lucky to get one.

We often drive through Memphis on I-55, and it doesn't appear to go through the best part of town. If you are stopping for the night there, I'd recommend researching where you will stay and not assuming there will be good options right off the interstate. I've stayed in downtown Memphis and it was fine.

 

[Fred in Alabama]

I took my daughter up there a couple of years ago on spring break. There are some great wineries outside of St. Louis. Be sure to check them out. I also belive there is Davie Crocketts or Danial Boones Homestead just outside the city.

 

[M&P_Owner]

Forest Park is considered the the city's "Crown Jewel". Art museum, zoo, science center and during the summer months, the Muni Opera. You could actually spend an entire day visiting the attractions in the park.

Just a word of caution though...............The light rail system in the city is called "Metrolink" and they can be extremely tough on CCW if you decide to ride it & carry.

I hope you enjoy your visit!