Here in NC we have open carry for any lawful resident of age, as well as concealed carry with a concealed carry permit.
If a business or private owner does not want weapons carried on their property they have the right to post signage to that effect. Certain places where carry is prohibited are not required to post signage. Federal and state buildings, post offices, bars, restaurants which serve alcohol, paid entry events like concerts, and other places specifically mentioned in the law.
We had less restrictive carry laws and castle doctrine law passed in 2011. As a result, citizens are now allowed to carry in more places such as municipal parks and greenways. State parks and state rest stops are now removed form the prohibited areas..... so I can carry when we go camping in the state parks now. However, there are local jurisdictions which did not like this one bit and posted those areas, against the new state law.
State law preempts local jurisdiction and the state took those localities to court where the judge upheld state law. The municipalities not to be deterred, looked immediately for loopholes and tried to redefine their parks as "play grounds for children" which again was defeated soundly in the courts.
Greensboro, Winston Salem and Chapel Hill are at the forefront of trying to ban guns from their cities, but fortunately they have lost every single argument and barrier they have attempted to place in front of the citizens. Chapel Hill also tried to ban driving and talking on a cell phone. On this issue a state court ruled against Chapel Hill with the same legal argument that a jurisdiction could not supersede state law since it would cause confusion and would be a for of entrapment. The same would apply to someone open carrying. Leave home in a jurisdiction that follows state law, stop in Chapel Hill to gas up and suddenly you are a felon for open carry....? Nope.... the judge ruled against the cities stating they can't do that in violation of NC state law.
There has to be uniformity of open and concealed carry laws statewide. That is the intention of the state law. Later this year more laws are up for a vote that will give more rights to gun owners and to the folks who carry both open and concealed. On the table are concealed carry into restaurants. It is expected to pass in the spring when it is scheduled for a vote and would be effective in December.
Grass Roots NC is the gun activist group that is in the lead on fighting for gun rights here in NC as well as informing us, the gun owners, as to what is happening here in NC regarding guns and the attempts of the other side to ban them. I get their email updates and notices on a weekly basis and sometimes more often than that.
As far as carrying a gun though a state like NJ or Illinois or NY.... my understanding is it's best to detour but if that is not possible, the weapon should be disassembled if possible, unloaded, and the ammunition stored in a separate and locked container. The best way to carry a handgun is to have it secured in a safe or strong box that is attached securely to the vehicle and locked. Passing through with out stopping is acceptable but if you are "pulled over" by police or stop for gas or restroom breaks that becomes a moot point because you have now stopped.
As a gun owner, I have a book which has the carry laws for all the states. Last summer, I went on vacation to Maryland. Looking in the manual at the MD gun laws and the state rating, I decided NOT to carry my weapon with me on vacation since MD, while not as bad as NJ is not a gun friendly state and getting stopped by law enforcement could be problematic.
Looking in the same book a year or so earlier, I did carry my weapon without and fear or concern while driving to Florida and passing through SC and GA on vacation. I also do not worry in Virginia while carrying.
At all the traffic stops and license registration stops I have experienced, not a single problem with the weapon and LEO's in those states. "Thank you Mr Hartley... have a nice day"
Reciprocity between states is good. But it is not universal and MD, NJ, NY, and ILL for example do not recognize the NC CCW permit. (IIRC) Before I travel to a new place I check the laws.