Camping for the Hotel Set

You get the city people who don't know how to make s'mores. Then there are the overconfident ones who think they can sleep soundly on the bare ground like Clint Eastwood. And let's not forget the twitchy types who are certain they will be eaten by bears. This is the world of first-time campers.

Dave Sayler, a camping specialist at the Seattle flagship store of REI, one of the country's largest outdoor-gear companies, has fielded all manner of ridiculous questions from rookies. "I try to keep a straight face," he says. "I've been asked if a tent will keep bears out." (For the record, the answer is no.)

Given the economy, chances are good that the level of anxiety will be higher than usual this summer at campgrounds across the country. One step above a staycation, camping is a cheap way to get your trip on. ReserveAmerica.com which works with more than 4,000 campgrounds nationwide, set a record in February, booking some 20,000 reservations in a single 24-hour period. And during these tightfisted times, companies like REI and Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) are reporting an uptick in the sale of family tents.

But for those passing on a trip to a pricey theme park, the idea of sleeping outside can be daunting. For starters, there are the ever present bears, not to mention worries about staying warm, dry and comfortable. Plus, the cost of getting outfitted can quickly add up.

Newbies in the know, however, can rent equipment from REI, EMS, locally owned camping stores or Lowergear.com which ships via UPS. As for comfort, outdoor stores are catering to first timers by stocking items like queen-size inflatable beds with a pump that plugs into a car's DC outlet. Modern family camping "isn't a canvas tent, mosquito bites, a cot and rain dripping on your head," says Ted Manning, EMS's general merchandise manager. Stores today have everything from self-inflatable pillows ($17-$40) to collapsible marshmallow-roasting sticks ($13).

Meanwhile, Kampgrounds of America (KOA), the largest system of private campgrounds in the U.S., is cashing in on the spike in family camping by touting its array of cabins and lodges. And yes, there are still places to pitch a tent. The company reported that 21% of its campers last year were first-time KOAers, the highest percentage in 18 years. Its campgrounds, where cabins start at about $45 a night, offer amenities that might turn off purists hoping to commune with nature; on a recent Saturday at a KOA in Newburgh, N.Y., a hay wagon full of kids singing "Bingo Was His Name-O" cruised past two swimming pools, a video arcade, a mini-golf course and an on-site store that sells beer. Like most KOA campgrounds, Newburgh also provides free wi-fi.

Carolyn Wright, the campground's "ambassador," was driving a golf cart, waving to campers she knew from years past and stopping to answer questions. "Camping is a cheap way for people with kids to explore new things," she said. "Kids have as much fun here as they do in Disneyland." At least the lines for the restrooms are shorter.