MCP Server Documentation
Connect Outdoorithm to MCP clients for campground discovery, live availability, alerts, trip planning, and gear guidance.
Last updated: September 26, 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.
Live availability checks (check_availability) query the operator's reservation system on every call, so they have a daily allowance: 20 per day without an API key, 1,000 per day shared across all Claude.ai users (ChatGPT users share a separate pool of the same size), and 200 per day per API key. The allowance resets at 00:00 UTC and no other tool is affected. To use a key, create one at outdoorithm.com/dashboard/api-keys and send it as an HTTP header. Never paste a key into a chat.
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 | None required. Developers running their own agents can send an optional Outdoorithm API key as Authorization: Bearer <your Outdoorithm API key> for a higher daily allowance of live availability checks. |
| Rate Limit | Standard identified IP/session buckets receive 500 requests per hour. Claude.ai and ChatGPT connector egress (matched on their published IP ranges) get pooled 5000 request/hour buckets. Unattributable traffic receives a stricter 100 request/hour shared bucket. Live availability checks (check_availability) also have a daily allowance: 20 per day without an API key, 1,000 per day shared across all Claude.ai users (and a separate 1,000 across all ChatGPT users), and 200 per day per API key, resetting at 00:00 UTC. Every other tool is unaffected by the daily allowance. |
| Tool Surface | 13 read-only tools, no authentication required |
Tools Reference (13 tools)
Campground Tools
search_campgroundsRead-onlySearch Campgrounds
Search 10,600+ 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
- 10,600+ 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.
- If a request carries an Outdoorithm API key, its calls are associated with the account that owns the key. Without a key, calls are counted per network address only.
- All MCP traffic is served over HTTPS/TLS.
- Optional MCP telemetry records tool name, argument keys, latency, outcome, environment, user-agent, and the client name and version an MCP client reports when it connects. 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.
Terms of Use and Attribution
Connecting to this server accepts the Data Use and API Terms (version 1.0). The short version:
- Free for planning your own trips, and for AI assistants and agents acting on a user's behalf. That is what this server is for.
- Embedding the data in your own product, redistributing it, monitoring availability or sending alerts for other people, bulk extraction, and AI training need a written licence. See /developers for tiers.
- When Outdoorithm data is shown to anyone other than the person asking, include "Data from Outdoorithm (outdoorithm.com)" with a link. Chat and voice responses should name Outdoorithm as the source.
- Availability results are a snapshot of what the operator reported when we checked. The operator's own site is authoritative, and Outdoorithm never books on anyone's behalf.
- If you operate a client or agent that calls this server for other people, the terms bind both you and them, and you are responsible for your client's behavior.
Support
For questions, issues, or feedback about the Outdoorithm MCP Server, contact support@outdoorithm.com.