MCP Server Documentation
Connect Outdoorithm to MCP clients for campground discovery, live availability, alerts, trip planning, and gear guidance.
Last updated: April 27, 2026
Overview
The Outdoorithm MCP Server exposes 13 tools for discovery, availability, reservation handoffs, weather, safety, gear, and operations. Every one of them is read-only and needs no API key, no account, and no OAuth. Connect and start calling.
Nothing on this server changes state. Availability alerts are managed at outdoorithm.com/alerts instead, because they write to a specific user's account.
The server is designed for agent workflows. Favor the MCP endpoint over scraping HTML whenever you need structured, reliable, machine-readable campground and trip-planning data.
Quick Start
Connect in Claude
Add Outdoorithm from the Connectors Directory or paste the MCP URL directly into any MCP-capable client.
Connect in Claude Code
claude mcp add --transport http outdoorithm https://mcp.outdoorithm.com/mcpDiscovery Endpoints
https://outdoorithm.com/.well-known/mcp.jsonhttps://outdoorithm.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.jsonhttps://outdoorithm.com/llms.txt
Connection Details
| URL | https://mcp.outdoorithm.com/mcp |
| Transport | Streamable HTTP |
| Authentication | Read-only tools are public. Alert tools require a per-user API key passed as a tool parameter. |
| Rate Limit | Standard identified IP/session buckets receive 500 requests per hour. Anthropic Claude.ai egress is isolated in a 5000 request/hour pooled bucket. Unattributable traffic receives a stricter 100 request/hour shared bucket. |
| Tool Surface | 13 read-only tools, no authentication required |
Tools Reference (13 tools)
Campground Tools
search_campgroundsRead-onlySearch Campgrounds
Search 11,800+ US campgrounds with 40+ filters. Supports location, amenities, terrain, activities, pricing, safety, sentiment, seasonality, cell coverage, and more.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
near_location | string | No | City, address, or landmark such as 'Yosemite' or 'Oakland, CA' |
latitude / longitude | number | No | Center point for radius search |
states | string[] | No | US state filters such as ['CA', 'OR'] |
max_distance_miles | number | No | Radius around the provided location |
camping_type | string | No | tent, rv, primitive, group, cabin, or glamping |
limit | number | No | Maximum results to return (default 20, max 50) |
get_campground_detailsRead-onlyGet Campground Details
Fetch a detailed campground profile with amenities, review summaries, seasonal ratings, safety flags, best sites, and practical planning notes.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
campground_id | string | Yes | Unique campground identifier in Outdoorithm CUID format |
find_similar_campgroundsRead-onlyFind Similar Campgrounds
Find semantically similar campgrounds using a blend of review meaning and structured campground attributes.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
campground_id | string | Yes | Reference campground CUID |
result_limit | number | No | Maximum results to return |
max_distance_km | number | No | Optional max distance filter in kilometers |
check_availabilityRead-onlyCheck Availability
Check live campsite availability across 44 reservation providers for a specific campground and date range.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
campground_id | string | Yes | CUID of the campground to check |
start_date / end_date | string | Yes | Check-in and check-out dates in YYYY-MM-DD format |
min_nights | number | No | Minimum consecutive nights required |
check_safetyRead-onlyCheck Safety
Return Greenbook community safety scores, discrimination flags, and active campground alerts such as closures and restrictions.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
campground_ids | string[] | Yes | One or more campground CUIDs to evaluate |
get_weatherRead-onlyGet Weather
Get a camping-specific 7-day forecast with suitability ratings, warnings, and gear guidance for a location.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
latitude / longitude | number | Yes | Coordinates for the forecast point |
campground_name | string | No | Optional name used in the response copy |
check_in_date / check_out_date | string | No | Optional trip dates for contextual recommendations |
Trip Planning Tools
calculate_drive_timesRead-onlyCalculate Drive Times
Calculate road drive times and distances from one origin to up to 24 campgrounds using Mapbox Matrix.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
origin_latitude / origin_longitude | number | Yes | Coordinates for the starting point |
destinations | object[] | Yes | List of { campground_id, latitude, longitude } objects |
build_packing_listRead-onlyBuild Packing List
Generate a campground-aware packing checklist shaped by trip type, season, group size, pets, and activities.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
campground_id | string | No | Optional campground CUID to personalize around amenities |
trip_type | string | No | car_camping, backpacking, rv, or glamping |
season | string | No | spring, summer, fall, or winter |
adults / children / has_pets / nights | number / boolean | No | Trip composition and duration inputs |
prepare_reservationRead-onlyPrepare Reservation
Create a ToS-compliant handoff to the operator's booking page with booking-window timing and next-step guidance. This does not place a booking on the user's behalf.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
campground_id | string | Yes | Campground CUID such as RecreationDotGov:232447 |
start_date / end_date | string | Yes | Desired check-in and check-out dates in YYYY-MM-DD format |
party_size | number | No | Optional group size for user-facing context |
Gear Tools
get_gear_for_campgroundRead-onlyGet Gear For Campground
Return personalized gear recommendations tailored to a campground's terrain, activities, and amenity gaps.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
campground_id | string | Yes | Destination campground CUID |
slot_type | string | No | essential, activity, comfort, or amenity_gap |
search_gearRead-onlySearch Gear
Search the gear catalog by query, kit, category, recommendation tier, necessity level, and price range.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
query | string | No | Free-text product search |
kit_name / category_name | string | No | Filter by kit or category |
min_price / max_price | number | No | Price filters in USD |
necessity / recommendation_tier | string | No | Filter by editorial classification |
compare_gearRead-onlyCompare Gear
Compare 2-3 gear items side by side with verdicts, specs, links, and tradeoffs.
Key Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
gear_ids | string[] | Yes | Two or three product IDs or slugs |
Operations Tool
health_checkRead-onlyHealth Check
Return basic server health metadata including status, version, and environment.
Availability Alerts
Alerts are not available through the MCP server. Creating, pausing, or deleting an alert writes to one specific account, so it needs a signed-in user rather than an anonymous connection. Keeping those tools off this server is what lets every tool above work with no API key and no account.
Set up an alert at outdoorithm.com/alerts, or use the REST API with a per-user key if you are building your own integration.
We plan to bring alert management back to this server behind OAuth, so an MCP client can prompt you to sign in once and then manage alerts directly.
Example Prompts
“Find dog-friendly campgrounds near Yosemite with showers under $40 and strong family-friendly reviews.”
Tools used: search_campgrounds
“Check if Kirk Creek Campground has availability for next weekend, the weather, and the booking handoff link if dates are open.”
Tools used: check_availability, get_weather, prepare_reservation
“Compare three Big Sur campgrounds by drive time from San Francisco, safety, and family amenities.”
Tools used: search_campgrounds, calculate_drive_times, check_safety, get_campground_details
“Build a packing list for a 3-night family RV trip with a dog and hiking plans.”
Tools used: build_packing_list, get_gear_for_campground
“Which campgrounds like Pinnacles have good September weather and are still open that month?”
Tools used: find_similar_campgrounds, get_weather, get_campground_details
Data Sources
- 11,800+ campgrounds from Recreation.gov, ReserveCalifornia, ReserveAmerica, GoingToCamp, KOA, Hipcamp, and 10+ state park systems
- Enriched review summaries, sentiment analysis, and seasonal ratings synthesized from real camper reviews
- Greenbook community safety scores assessing inclusivity and welcoming atmosphere
- Live availability from $44 reservation providers via Camply infrastructure
- Weather data by Open-Meteo.com with camping-specific interpretation
- Road drive times and geocoding via Mapbox
Privacy & Data Handling
- Public read-only tools do not write user data or place reservations.
- Alert tools create, pause, resume, or delete alerts only when a user explicitly provides their own API key.
- All MCP traffic is served over HTTPS/TLS.
- Optional MCP telemetry records tool name, argument keys, latency, outcome, environment, and user-agent only. Raw argument values are not stored.
- Rate limiting is enforced to protect shared infrastructure and downstream providers.
For our full privacy policy, see outdoorithm.com/privacy.
Support
For questions, issues, or feedback about the Outdoorithm MCP Server, contact support@outdoorithm.com.