Urbanites nostalgic about childhood camping trips – or wanting to try tent camping for the first time – often are daunted by logistical challenges, such as figuring out where to go and what to bring, and anxieties about diving headlong into the unfamiliar wilderness.

Fear not. For those more accustomed to navigating freeways than wooded trails, a wealth of online resources, a new generation of camping equipment and a national network of user-friendly campsites make reserving a place to pitch a tent no tougher than commuting to work.

“The main misconception about camping is that it’s hard,” said Chuck Stark, a senior camping instructor at the REI Outdoor School in Chicago. “When you start planning, it’s actually really straightforward. The key is to keep it simple.”

The first step, he said, is to do a little homework and figure out where you’d like to go. “The Best in Tent Camping” book series (Menasha Ridge Press) reviews campsites in 30 states, including Colorado, and is loaded with detailed ratings that can help you avoid blaring stereos, convoys of RVs, poor maintenance and concrete slab platforms. Many other local guides, both online and in print, are also available.

Next, identify what’s essential to your comfort. Maybe it’s back support (bring a cot). Or having separate tents for kids and parents. Or bringing s’mores. Or earplugs: The wilderness can be surprisingly noisy at night.

Before setting out, reserve a place to pitch your tent – ideally as early as nine months ahead of time. Luckily, the reservation process is now similar to that at a hotel – without the hefty price tag. The online service ReserveAmerica.com includes campgrounds in state and national parks, as well as many run by regional agencies and some private companies.

Campsite fees are generally between $10 and $25 a night, depending on the park, amenities and season. Advance reservations, particularly for more coveted areas, are strongly recommended. If you’re flexible about dates and locations, though, many campsites can be reserved on shorter notice. The camping season generally runs from May to October.

In addition to offering some of the more stunning scenery around, many state and national parks now offer clean private showers and porcelain flush toilets, potable water and electrical outlets, playgrounds, boating, swimming and hiking. Firewood is often available for sale and most individual campsites are equipped with picnic tables and fire rings.

“There’s a real movement underway to make the outdoors more relevant to city dwellers, and there are a growing number of partnerships between outdoors organizations and city communities,” said Melanie MacInnis, assistant director of the San Francisco-based Sierra Club Outdoors. The Sierra Club, which promotes the enjoyment, exploration and protection of the environment, has offices across the U.S., including in Colorado Springs, and offers classes and trips to teach beginners wilderness skills such as first aid, camping and hiking.

For those still not ready to pitch a tent, some campgrounds feature cabins, which offer the joys of camping and gathering around a campfire with the convenience of beds, stoves and refrigerators, although many require a seven-day minimum stay.

New kinds of camping gear have made tent camping the old-fashioned way easier than ever, and some major outdoors outfitting stores offer gear rentals; classes in camp cooking and basic camping; and group trips, as well as easy returns should you find your equipment isn’t quite what you’d hoped.

“Tents are way easier to set up than they used to be,” Stark said. “When I was a kid we had a big canvas tent that was a real event to set up. Now better tents are lightweight with only a few flexible poles, and are color-coded so it’s easier to figure out where things go.”

New creature comforts include double-decker cots, sleeping bags roomy enough for two, pop-up tents, small portable toilets, solar-powered phone chargers, and suitcase-size kitchens and camp furniture that would look as comfortable in a studio apartment as in the great outdoors.

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Four-part series

Monday: With online resources and upgraded equipment, camping isn’t a difficult venture.

Tuesday: Five things you might be worried about when it comes to camping, and ways to cope.

Wednesday: You’ll need to eat at the campsite, so here are tips for making a tasty burger.

Thursday: In Colorado’s state parks, 12 sites dominate when it comes to drawing campers.

Four-part series

Monday: With online resources and upgraded equipment, camping isn’t a difficult venture.

Tuesday: Five things you might be worried about when camping, and ways to cope.

Wednesday: You’ll need to eat at the campsite, so here are tips for making a tasty burger.

Thursday: In Colorado’s state parks, 12 sites dominate when it comes to drawing campers.