National Parks MCP Server

MCP Server for the National Park Service (NPS) API, providing real-time information about U.S. National Parks, including park details, alerts, and activities.

Tools

1. findParks

• Search for national parks based on various criteria
• Inputs:
• stateCode (optional string): Filter parks by state code (e.g., "CA" for California). Multiple states can be comma-separated (e.g., "CA,OR,WA")
• q (optional string): Search term to filter parks by name or description
• limit (optional number): Maximum number of parks to return (default: 10, max: 50)
• start (optional number): Start position for results (useful for pagination)
• activities (optional string): Filter by available activities (e.g., "hiking,camping")
• Returns: Matching parks with detailed information

2. getParkDetails

• Get comprehensive information about a specific national park
• Inputs:
• parkCode (string): The park code of the national park (e.g., "yose" for Yosemite, "grca" for Grand Canyon)
• Returns: Detailed park information including descriptions, hours, fees, contacts, and activities

3. getAlerts

• Get current alerts for national parks including closures, hazards, and important information
• Inputs:
• parkCode (optional string): Filter alerts by park code (e.g., "yose" for Yosemite). Multiple parks can be comma-separated (e.g., "yose,grca")
• limit (optional number): Maximum number of alerts to return (default: 10, max: 50)
• start (optional number): Start position for results (useful for pagination)
• q (optional string): Search term to filter alerts by title or description
• Returns: Current alerts organized by park

4. getVisitorCenters

• Get information about visitor centers and their operating hours
• Inputs:
• parkCode (optional string): Filter visitor centers by park code (e.g., "yose" for Yosemite). Multiple parks can be comma-separated (e.g., "yose,grca")
• limit (optional number): Maximum number of visitor centers to return (default: 10, max: 50)
• start (optional number): Start position for results (useful for pagination)
• q (optional string): Search term to filter visitor centers by name or description
• Returns: Visitor center information including location, hours, and contact details

5. getCampgrounds

• Get information about available campgrounds and their amenities
• Inputs:
• parkCode (optional string): Filter campgrounds by park code (e.g., "yose" for Yosemite). Multiple parks can be comma-separated (e.g., "yose,grca")
• limit (optional number): Maximum number of campgrounds to return (default: 10, max: 50)
• start (optional number): Start position for results (useful for pagination)
• q (optional string): Search term to filter campgrounds by name or description
• Returns: Campground information including amenities, fees, and reservation details

6. getEvents

• Find upcoming events at parks
• Inputs:
• parkCode (optional string): Filter events by park code (e.g., "yose" for Yosemite). Multiple parks can be comma-separated (e.g., "yose,grca")
• limit (optional number): Maximum number of events to return (default: 10, max: 50)
• start (optional number): Start position for results (useful for pagination)
• dateStart (optional string): Start date for filtering events (format: YYYY-MM-DD)
• dateEnd (optional string): End date for filtering events (format: YYYY-MM-DD)
• q (optional string): Search term to filter events by title or description
• Returns: Event information including dates, times, and descriptions

Setup

Installing via Smithery

To install mcp-server-nationalparks for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @KyrieTangSheng/mcp-server-nationalparks --client claude

NPS API Key

1. Get a free API key from the National Park Service Developer Portal

2. Store this key securely as it will be used to authenticate requests

Usage with Claude Desktop

To use this server with Claude Desktop, add the following to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nationalparks": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-server-nationalparks"],
      "env": {
        "NPS_API_KEY": "YOUR_NPS_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Example Usage

Finding Parks in a State

Tell me about national parks in Colorado.

Getting Details About a Specific Park

What's the entrance fee for Yellowstone National Park?

Checking for Alerts or Closures

Are there any closures or alerts at Yosemite right now?

Finding Visitor Centers

What visitor centers are available at Grand Canyon National Park?

Looking for Campgrounds

Are there any campgrounds with electrical hookups in Zion National Park?

Finding Upcoming Events

What events are happening at Acadia National Park next weekend?

Planning a Trip Based on Activities

Which national parks in Utah have good hiking trails?

License

This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

Appendix: Popular National Parks and their codes

For a complete list, visit the NPS website.