# NPS MCP

> National Park Service MCP Server lets your AI client access authoritative data on U.S. National Parks. You can query park locations, check real-time safety alerts, find scheduled events, and retrieve educational materials—all from a single conversation with your agent.

## Overview
- **Category:** government-public-data
- **Price:** Free
- **Tags:** national-parks, public-records, travel-alerts, location-services, outdoor-recreation

## Description

When you connect your agent to the **National Park Service MCP Server**, you get direct access to authoritative data covering every corner of U.S. National Parks. You don't have to jump through ten different websites; your AI client pulls everything into one conversation.

**Finding Your Way In:**

You need to figure out where the park is first. You can use `list_parks` to pull a complete list of U.S. National Parks, letting you filter that massive database by state or even by a specific park code if you know it. If you're looking for something more precise than just the park boundary—say, a significant historical marker or a natural landmark—you use `list_places` to pinpoint those exact points of interest within the system. For physical starting points like an official visitor center, `list_visitor_centers` locates them immediately.

**Checking the Vibe (Real-Time Data):**

Safety and status are huge here. You can run `list_alerts` to retrieve current safety notices or operational closures for any park you specify; this is critical data because conditions change fast. If you want a visual check on what things look like right now, `list_webcams` provides metadata and links to live streaming webcams showing actual park conditions. You can also use `list_alerts` to confirm if an area is closed or if there's any special warning in place.

**Planning Your Trip:**

Getting the details together for a trip is simple. If you need to know where people can sleep, `list_campgrounds` gives you a list of available sites and associated facility details across the whole network. To keep track of what’s going on while you're there, run `list_events`, which pulls up scheduled public activities or special happenings at national parks. Knowing what facilities are open and when they operate is handled by checking campground and visitor center data.

**Deep Dive into Content & Education:**

This server isn't just for trip planning; it’s a massive resource hub. For official word, `list_news_releases` pulls formal statements straight from the NPS database. If you need background reading—general informational articles written about specific parks—you use `list_articles`. Educators will love this: `list_lesson_plans` retrieves structured educational materials and full plans designed for students and teachers. For those who just want to know what's happening in the world of park history, `list_places` identifies significant natural or historical points that you can then research further using other tools.

## Tools

### list_alerts
Retrieves current safety notices, closures, or operational alerts for national parks.

### list_articles
Fetches general informational articles written about specific national parks.

### list_campgrounds
Lists available campgrounds and associated facility details within the park system.

### list_events
Finds scheduled public activities or special events happening at national parks.

### list_lesson_plans
Retrieves structured educational plans and materials for students and teachers.

### list_news_releases
Pulls official, formal statements or news releases published by the NPS.

### list_parks
Lists U.S. National Parks; you can filter this list by state or park code.

### list_places
Identifies and lists significant natural or historical points of interest within the parks.

### list_visitor_centers
Locates official visitor centers for specific national park areas.

### list_webcams
Provides metadata and links to live streaming webcams showing current park conditions.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
List all national parks in California.
```

**Response:** 
```
I've retrieved the parks for California. You have several notable ones including 'Yosemite National Park' (YOSE), 'Joshua Tree National Park' (JOTR), and 'Death Valley National Park' (DEVA). Shall I check for active alerts in Yosemite?
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Are there any active safety alerts for Yellowstone?
```

**Response:** 
```
I've checked the alerts for Yellowstone (YELL). There are 2 active notices: a 'Caution' due to high bear activity in certain areas and a 'Notice' about a seasonal road closure on Dunraven Pass. Would you like more details on the bear activity areas?
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Show me upcoming events in Grand Canyon.
```

**Response:** 
```
Retrieving events for Grand Canyon (GRCA)... There is a 'Guided Rim Walk' scheduled for tomorrow at 10 AM and a 'Star Party' this Saturday evening. Shall I provide the meeting location for the rim walk?
```

## Capabilities

### Determine Park Locations
List U.S. National Parks by state or code, or find specific points of interest like visitor centers.

### Check Status and Safety Alerts
Retrieve real-time notices, including closures and safety warnings for a specified park.

### Plan Trips and View Facilities
List available campgrounds, locate facilities, and check operational hours for specific parks.

### Track Events and Media
Find upcoming scheduled activities using `list_events`, or get links/metadata from live webcams using `list_webcams`.

### Gather Educational Content
Pull official news releases, academic articles, and lesson plans directly from the NPS database.

## Use Cases

### A family plans a weekend trip, but they don't know if camping is allowed.
The agent runs `list_parks` first to confirm the target park. Then, it uses `list_campgrounds`. The result immediately shows availability and facility types (like showers or electric hookups), solving the planning bottleneck in seconds.

### A teacher needs resources for a unit on conservation history.
Instead of searching multiple government sites, the agent runs `list_lesson_plans` to get ready-to-use curriculum and then uses `list_news_releases` to pull recent authoritative context. The teacher gets both academic depth and current relevance.

### A hiker needs to check for immediate dangers before heading out.
The agent runs `list_alerts` with the park name. If it finds an active 'Caution' due to wildlife or a closure, the AI client immediately warns the user and suggests alternative routes using data from `list_places`.

### A travel blogger needs content for a guide on local attractions.
The agent combines calls: it uses `list_visitor_centers` to find key starting points, then runs `list_events` and `list_webcams`. This gives the blogger enough diverse material—from current events to live views—for an entire week of content.

## Benefits

- Instantly verify park status using `list_alerts`. Don't plan a trip only to find out later that the main road is closed; your agent checks this first.
- Plan multi-stop trips by running `list_parks` followed by `list_campgrounds`, ensuring every night has available lodging and facilities, all in one query.
- Stop digging through separate educational portals. Use `list_lesson_plans` to get curriculum-ready materials and use `list_articles` for quick background reading on a specific park's history.
- Get the full scope of what’s happening: combine `list_events` with `list_places` to see exactly where scheduled activities are taking place, saving you multiple map checks.
- See current conditions by running `list_webcams`. You get live links and metadata for streaming cameras without having to visit the NPS site manually.

## How It Works

The bottom line is that you talk to your agent like a human, and the agent handles all the API calls needed to build the answer.

1. Subscribe to this server on Vinkius and obtain your NPS API Key. You'll need that key for authentication.
2. Connect your AI client (Claude, Cursor, etc.) to the MCP Server using your API credentials.
3. Ask your agent a question—like 'What are the current alerts in Yosemite?'—and it runs the necessary tool calls to pull the live data.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How do I find campgrounds in a specific park using list_campgrounds?**
You ask your agent to run `list_campgrounds` and specify the desired park name or code. It returns structured data including availability, facility type, and operating status.

**What's the difference between using list_alerts and list_news_releases?**
`list_alerts` gives you immediate, operational safety notices (e.g., 'Road Closed'). `list_news_releases` provides formal, published statements about policy changes or long-term plans.

**Can I find out what's happening in Grand Canyon this weekend using list_events?**
Yes. Running `list_events` for the park and specifying a date range will show all scheduled activities, like guided walks or talks, giving you an itinerary overview.

**How do I get location details for visitor centers? Use list_visitor_centers.**
Simply ask your agent to run `list_visitor_centers` and provide the park name. It retrieves coordinates, operating hours, and key services offered at those locations.

**What steps are required before I can successfully run `list_parks`?**
You must first obtain an NPS developer API Key. You get this key from nps.gov/subjects/developer, and then you input that credential into your AI client when connecting the server.

**If I run `list_alerts` for a park and get no results, does that mean the area is safe to visit?**
No. Receiving zero alerts only means the API couldn't locate any published notices through its system at this time. Always cross-reference critical safety information with official NPS websites.

**How can I find educational materials for a specific subject or age group using `list_lesson_plans`?**
The tool lets you filter lesson plan searches by both academic topic and target grade level. This capability helps quickly narrow down resources for curriculum planning.

**Does running `list_webcams` give me a truly real-time view of park conditions?**
The tool provides the metadata and direct links to active streaming feeds. The actual update frequency relies on the camera's source, so expect live data but check the camera notes for refresh rates.

**Is the NPS API Key free?**
Yes! You can sign up for a free API key at nps.gov/subjects/developer by providing your name and email. The key is typically issued instantly.

**How can I find the correct 'Park Code'?**
You can find park codes by using the `list_parks` tool or by looking at the URL of a park on nps.gov (e.g., nps.gov/yose/ has the code 'yose').

**What kind of alerts are provided?**
The `list_alerts` tool provides information on park closures, safety warnings (like weather or fire conditions), and general notices about road work or facility changes.