Camping

I don't want to go far away, like 4 hours max in the car and even that is pushing it. Never been camping and as much as I want to do the tent thing and really go all out, it's easier to get people to go when a cottage in involved. Coming from Long Island, where does one go? No one I know does the camping thing and i'm generally good with online searches but this is proving to be difficult. There is a place in Ohio called Hocking Hills is a good cottage camping ground to compare to. Help!?!?