There are times when I suddenly think about going camping.

At first, I thought camping meant buying a tent, a burner, and preparing a ton of stuff.

However, after looking around Montgomery, I found that there are many decent places nearby. The easiest place to go is Gunter Hill Campground.

It's only about 10 miles from downtown Montgomery, so if you decide to go, you can pack up and head out on a Friday afternoon.

This campground is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has about 140 campsites available year-round. It has electricity and water facilities, showers, restrooms, a playground, a boat launch, and picnic areas, making it a good choice for beginners.

For someone like me, if the restroom situation is uncomfortable while camping, I start thinking about home. So, I prefer places like this rather than going too deep into the wilderness right away.

The price is around $26 to $30 per night, so it's not a big burden compared to a hotel. You can enjoy the view while sitting in a chair and sipping coffee. Reservations can be made at Recreation.gov.

If you're okay with going a bit further, there's also Chewacla State Park near Auburn. It's about 50 miles from Montgomery, so you can expect about an hour's drive.

This park spans 696 acres and has a 26-acre lake. If you bring kids, they can enjoy the water, playground, and picnic areas, making the day fly by.

There are 36 campsites with electricity, water, and sewage connections, as well as primitive camping sites for those who want to experience the outdoors more authentically.

They also offer glamping, which is popular with younger people, so if you're not confident about sleeping in a tent, this could be a good option to try first.

Auburn University is nearby, so if your kids are a bit older, it would be nice to take them camping and show them the campus.

If you're looking for a full getaway, Oak Mountain State Park is available. It's about 90 miles from Montgomery, so it's better to plan for one or two nights rather than a day trip.

This is the largest state park in Alabama, so the scale is different. It's not just for camping; you can hike, bike, fish, swim, and even horseback ride. There are golf courses and cabins, as well as glamping facilities, so there's something for every family's taste.

However, if you haven't camped much, I don't think you need to go far right away.

Start by spending a night at a nearby place like Gunter Hill. Since it's only about 10 miles from home, you won't feel too bad if you forget something. If the kids get scared at night, you can always just come home in the worst-case scenario.

When you actually go, it's not a big deal. You grill some meat, sit in a chair and chat, and when the sun sets, you light a fire and look at the night sky.

Interestingly, kids tend to remember those moments for a long time.

They might not remember the expensive hotel stay, but they will talk about sleeping in a tent with mom and dad, eating snacks at night, and looking at the stars for years to come.

So, on a nice weekend, instead of planning a long trip, try going to a nearby campground first. You don't need to prepare anything extravagant from the start.

If you find it fun after going once, you can buy gear one piece at a time. I've seen many families buy a ton of camping gear and only go once and never again.