# Mapbox MCP > Mapbox MCP gives your AI client world-class location intelligence. It lets you convert addresses into precise coordinates, figure out driving routes between any two points, calculate travel times across multiple stops, and find nearby businesses instantly. Whether planning a complex delivery route or just needing to know the elevation at a specific spot, this connector handles all the geometry and mapping math so your agent can talk about location like a pro. ## Overview - **Category:** cloud-infrastructure - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** geocoding, routing, spatial-data, mapping, location-services, navigation ## Description Need to understand where something is, or how to get there? This MCP connects your AI client directly to Mapbox's full suite of geographical services. You stop struggling with separate tools for directions, coordinates, and map images. Instead, you ask your agent questions—like 'What are the fastest routes from downtown to the airport?'—and it handles everything. It converts addresses into structured data, calculates exact driving paths with turn-by-turn steps, and determines if an area is reachable within a certain time frame using tools like isochrones. All this complex location math works inside your agent's workflow. Because Vinkius hosts this connector, you connect once to the entire catalog and get immediate access to industry-leading mapping data. ## Tools ### geocode Converts a physical address or place name into precise coordinates, providing the necessary input for other tools. ### get_directions Calculates and returns detailed turn-by-turn instructions for driving, walking, or cycling between two points. ### get_distance_matrix Generates a table showing the travel time and distance between every combination of multiple locations. ### get_elevation Retrieves the vertical height data for any given pair of coordinates, useful for hiking or aviation planning. ### get_isochrone Maps out a specific service area polygon showing all locations reachable within a defined time limit or distance. ### get_static_map Creates and returns a direct image URL for any specified location and zoom level, ready for immediate use in documents. ### reverse_geocode Takes coordinates and immediately translates them back into a human-readable address format. ### search_nearby Searches for specific categories of points of interest—like hotels or restaurants—near given coordinates. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Geocode '1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC'. ``` **Response:** ``` Found: The White House at 38.8977°N, 77.0365°W. Full address: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500, United States. Place type: address. Bounding box provided. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Get driving directions from San Francisco to Los Angeles. ``` **Response:** ``` Route from San Francisco to Los Angeles: 616 km (383 miles), estimated 5 hours 50 minutes via I-5 S. Step-by-step instructions include: Head south on Market St, merge onto US-101 S, continue on I-5 S to Los Angeles. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Show me the area reachable within 15 minutes driving from Times Square, NYC. ``` **Response:** ``` Within 15 minutes driving from Times Square you can reach: most of Manhattan below 96th St, parts of Brooklyn (Williamsburg, DUMBO), Long Island City in Queens, and parts of the Bronx via the bridges. The isochrone polygon covers approximately 85 square km. ``` ## Capabilities ### Find coordinates from addresses It converts any place name or street address into precise latitude and longitude coordinates. ### Calculate routes and directions The agent generates step-by-step instructions for driving, walking, or cycling between two points. ### Determine travel metrics between many stops You can calculate the total distance and duration for multiple origins and destinations simultaneously. ### Find reachable areas (isochrones) It shows a polygon of all locations accessible within a specific time or travel distance from a starting point. ### Generate map images on demand You get a direct image URL for any location, perfect for including in reports or documents. ### Search for businesses nearby The agent finds points of interest, like gas stations or restaurants, near specific coordinates. ## Use Cases ### Determining the best warehouse placement A logistics planner needs to know which of three potential sites minimizes travel time to all major client hubs. The agent uses get_distance_matrix to run a comparison matrix, providing quantifiable data points that dictate where the new warehouse should go. ### Mapping out emergency response zones A city planner needs to visualize the area covered by ambulances within a 10-minute drive of a central station. The agent uses get_isochrone, providing a clear polygon that defines the exact service boundary. ### Building a travel guide for visitors A marketing team needs to create an itinerary showing key landmarks and nearby dining options. They first use geocode to find coordinates, then search_nearby to populate the points of interest, finally using get_static_map to build visual maps. ### Checking altitude for a construction site An engineer needs to verify if excavation is possible at a specific set of GPS coordinates. The agent runs get_elevation to confirm the vertical data, which determines if specialized equipment is required. ## Benefits - Stop manually looking up addresses. Use geocode to turn any place name into coordinates instantly, giving your agent the foundational data it needs for every other task. - Optimize delivery logistics effortlessly. Instead of calculating routes one stop at a time, get_distance_matrix calculates travel times and distances between an entire list of origins and destinations in one go. - Generate professional reports with minimal effort. Use get_static_map to create ready-to-embed map image URLs that you can drop right into your documents without needing external mapping software. - Understand service coverage instantly. The get_isochrone tool shows exactly what area is reachable from a single point within a set time, which is crucial for assessing market reach or emergency response zones. - Improve field efficiency with local search. When checking on a site, use search_nearby to pinpoint the closest gas station or hardware store without opening a separate mapping app. - Know your ground truth coordinates. If you only have GPS numbers, reverse_geocode instantly tells you what street address those coordinates correspond to. ## How It Works The bottom line is you never have to worry about API keys or coordinate formats again. You just ask for the map result. 1. Subscribe to this MCP on Vinkius and provide your Mapbox Access Token. 2. Connect the service using your preferred AI client (Claude, Cursor, etc.) 3. Ask your agent a location-based question; it executes the necessary tools and returns structured data or image URLs. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How does the Mapbox MCP handle multiple stops for directions?** The get_distance_matrix tool lets your agent calculate travel time and distance between an entire list of origins and destinations in a single request. This is much better than running many separate direction calls. **What if I only have coordinates and need the address? Mapbox MCP?** You use reverse_geocode. It takes raw longitude and latitude pairs and translates them back into a full, readable street address, city, and state combination. **Can I generate maps using the Mapbox MCP for reports?** Yes, you can use get_static_map. It provides a direct image URL that is customizable in terms of zoom level and dimensions, making it perfect for embedding into reports. **Does the Mapbox MCP only work for driving directions?** No. The connector supports multiple travel modes through get_directions, including walking (mapbox/walking) and cycling (mapbox/cycling), giving you full flexibility for different types of routes. **Is the Mapbox MCP useful for logistics planning?** Absolutely. Its tools like get_distance_matrix and get_isochrone are built specifically for logistics, allowing you to optimize delivery paths and define service boundaries quickly.