# Recreation.gov (RIDB) MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect > Recreation.gov (RIDB) lets you pull federal recreation data into your AI agent. Find campgrounds, hiking trails, and national parks across the US with specific filters for activities, locations, and facilities. It's the quickest way to get structured info on federal public lands without browsing dozens of different agency websites. ## Overview - **Category:** government-public-data - **Price:** Free - **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_rHxROOiqEooq7g22bs58a61vpzDKF787m9BYjwzm/ai-agent-connect - **Tags:** geospatial-data, campgrounds, public-lands, outdoor-recreation, api-integration, location-services ## Description Planning a trip through national forests or finding the right campsite shouldn't feel like a full-time job of clicking through endless government tabs. This Connector connects your AI agent directly to the Recreation Information Database, giving it the ability to see the entire landscape of federal land use. Instead of copy-pasting location details or hunting for operating hours, you can just ask your agent to find a spot that fits your specific needs. You can look for a specific type of fishing spot or a campground with specific amenities near a set of coordinates. This connection handles the heavy lifting of data retrieval. It's part of the Vinkius catalog, which makes it easy to plug into your existing setup and start querying thousands of sites instantly. You get real-time access to facility descriptions, management details, and even media like photos of the grounds. It turns your agent into a specialized outdoor concierge that knows the layout of public lands as well as a seasoned ranger. You can explore various states or search by specific keywords to narrow down your options. The system handles the complexity of navigating different agency records, so you don't have to worry about missing a hidden gem or a restricted area. It provides a unified way to browse public lands, making it a go-to for anyone who wants to spend less time on a screen and more time actually outside. ## Tools ### list_recarea_media Pull media and images for a specific recreation area. Use this to get a visual sense of a larger recreation zone. ### list_recareas List all recreation areas available in the database. This provides a broad overview of all recreation zones in the system. ### get_activity Get specific details about a recreation activity type. Use this to learn more about a particular outdoor sport or hobby. ### get_facility Pull complete information for a specific recreation facility. This gives you the full rundown on a site's features and rules. ### get_organization Find details about the federal organization managing a resource. Use this to see who oversees a specific park or forest. ### get_recarea Retrieve the specific details for a recreation area. This provides a deep dive into a larger geographic recreation zone. ### list_activities List all supported activities like hiking or camping in the database. Use this to see what types of recreation are officially recognized. ### list_facilities Retrieve a list of recreation facilities with optional filters. This helps you find specific types of sites across a region. ### list_facility_media Get photos and media for a specific facility. Use this to see what a destination actually looks like before you go. ### list_organizations List the federal agencies that manage public resources. This helps identify which government bodies control different lands. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` I'm looking for a campground in Utah that's good for hiking. What are my options? ``` **Response:** ``` I've searched the Recreation Information Database for campgrounds in Utah that support hiking. Here are a few top options: | Location | Features | | :--- | :--- | | **Zion National Park** | Famous for hiking, offers various camping styles. | | **Bryce Canyon** | Great for hiking and scenic views. | | **Capitol Reef** | Offers a mix of hiking and camping. | Would you like the specific operating hours or a list of amenities for any of these? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Can you show me some pictures of the facilities at the Ocala National Forest? ``` **Response:** ``` I'm pulling the media for the Ocala National Forest facilities now... I found several images for you: * **Campground Layout** (Image Link) * **Lake Views** (Image Link) * **Visitor Center Exterior** (Image Link) These photos should give you a good idea of the layout and scenery. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Which federal agencies manage the parks in the Southwest? ``` **Response:** ``` Several federal agencies manage recreation areas in the Southwest. The primary managers you'll find in the database are: * **National Park Service** * **U.S. Forest Service** * **Bureau of Land Management** Would you like me to find the specific agency for a particular park or forest? ``` ## Capabilities ### Find specific campgrounds and visitor centers Search for federal recreation sites by keyword, state, or specific activities. ### Locate spots near specific coordinates Use radial search parameters to find recreation areas near your exact GPS location. ### Pull full facility details Get complete descriptions, operating hours, and management info for any site. ### Filter by supported activities Find the perfect spot based on supported activities like hiking, fishing, or camping. ### Preview sites with photos Retrieve associated images and media to see what a destination looks like before you go. ### Identify managing agencies See which federal organizations manage specific public lands and resources. ## Use Cases ### Finding a specific camping spot A user wants a campground in Florida that allows hiking. The agent uses list_facilities and get_facility to find and describe the best spots. ### Researching land management A researcher needs to know which agencies manage specific areas. The agent uses list_organizations to map out federal oversight. ### Visualizing a trip A traveler wants to see what a campsite looks like. The agent calls list_facility_media to show photos of the layout and views. ### Coordinate-based search A hiker wants to find any recreation spots within 10 miles of a specific GPS point. The agent performs a radial search. ## Benefits - Stop browsing dozens of agency websites by getting all federal data in one place. - Save time on trip planning by using list_facilities to filter by specific amenities. - Visualize your destination instantly by pulling images with list_facility_media. - Get precise location data for your trip using radial searches near specific coordinates. - Identify land management quickly with list_organizations to know who runs the site. - Simplify research by pulling structured descriptions with get_recarea instead of manual copy-pasting. ## How It Works The bottom line is you get a direct line to federal recreation data without the manual searching. 1. Subscribe to the Connector and enter your RIDB API Key. 2. Connect the Connector to your preferred client like Claude or Cursor. 3. Ask your agent to find specific sites, activities, or media. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Can the Recreation.gov (RIDB) MCP find specific camping spots?** Yes, it can find campgrounds and other recreation facilities across all federal lands. You can filter these by location, activity type, and specific amenities. **Does the Recreation.gov (RIDB) MCP show photos of the parks?** It does. You can ask your agent to pull media and images for specific facilities or recreation areas to see what they look like before you visit. **Can I use the Recreation.gov (RIDB) MCP to find hiking trails near me?** Yes, you can perform a radial search to find recreation spots near your specific coordinates. It's a great way to find nearby hiking or outdoor spots on the fly. **Is the Recreation.gov (RIDB) MCP good for research on public lands?** It's excellent for research. It provides structured data on federal land use, including agency oversight, facility descriptions, and activity types. **How does the Recreation.gov (RIDB) MCP help with trip planning?** It helps by consolidating data from multiple federal agencies into one place. You can quickly compare sites, check hours, and see photos without opening dozens of tabs. **Can the Recreation.gov (RIDB) MCP filter by specific activities like fishing?** Yes, it can filter the database for facilities that specifically support activities like fishing, camping, hiking, or boating. **How can I find campgrounds in a specific state like Colorado?** You can use the `list_facilities` tool and provide 'CO' in the `state` parameter. You can also add a `query` like 'campground' to narrow down the results to camping facilities specifically. **Can I see photos of a specific recreation area before visiting?** Yes! Use the `list_recarea_media` tool with the specific `recAreaId`. It will return links to images and videos associated with that area in the RIDB database. **How do I find out which federal agency manages a park?** First, use `get_facility` or `get_recarea` to find the organization ID associated with the site. Then, use `get_organization` with that ID to see the full details of the managing agency.