How do I install the national mcp server?

Use a recorded configuration for your client, replace example credential values and paths, and verify the documented runtime. Restart or reconnect the client, then inspect the available tools.

What credentials does it need?

It reads `MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE`, `MCP_LOG_LEVEL`, `NPS_API_KEY`, `NPS_BASE_URL`, `MCP_HTTP_ENDPOINT_PATH` from the environment. Store these in your client's env block or a secrets manager — never commit them to a repository — and grant the narrowest scope that still covers your use case.

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National MCP Server

Plan US National Park Service trips — parks, alerts, campgrounds, things to do, events.

Remote serverstreamable-http

What is the National MCP Server?

Plan US National Park Service trips — parks, alerts, campgrounds, things to do, events.

What the server does

Declarative tool definitions — single file per tool, framework handles registration and validation
Unified error handling — handlers throw, framework catches, classifies, and formats
Pluggable auth: none, jwt, oauth
Swappable storage backends: in-memory, filesystem, Supabase, Cloudflare KV/R2/D1
Structured logging with optional OpenTelemetry tracing
STDIO and Streamable HTTP transports — same codebase runs locally or on Cloudflare Workers

Credentials and setup notes

Bun v1.3 or higher (or Node.js v24+). - A free NPS Data API key — instant signup. The server fails to start without it.

More MCP options

Compare MCP servers by category, or browse hosted MCP servers if you prefer an endpoint over a local process.

Maintainer setup documentation.

Recorded tools

Check the linked publisher documentation and your connected client's tool list. Names and availability can vary with the server version and account permissions.

Tool	What it does
nps_find_parks	Resolve a place name, US state, or free-text query to parks — the required first step. Returns each park's parkCode plus a trip-planning summary.
nps_get_park	Full detail for up to ten parks in one batched call: description, activities, fees & passes, hours, contacts, directions, weather overview, images.
nps_get_alerts	Current alerts for a park or state — closures, hazards, caution, information — with category and recency surfaced first.
nps_find_campgrounds	Campgrounds at a park or state: amenities, reservable vs. first-come site counts, reservation info, accessibility, and fees.
nps_get_activities	Curated things to do and points of interest: title, duration, location, accessibility, and fee/pet/reservation flags.
nps_find_events	Scheduled events within a date range: dates/times, location, category, fee, and registration links.

How to install the National MCP Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "national-parks-mcp-server": {
      "type": "streamable-http",
      "url": "https://national-parks.caseyjhand.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

Bun v1.3 or higher (or Node.js v24+). - A free NPS Data API key — instant signup. The server fails to start without it.

Variable	Description	Required
MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE	Configuration value read at startup.	Optional
MCP_LOG_LEVEL	Configuration value read at startup.	Optional
NPS_API_KEY	Credential the server authenticates with.	Yes
NPS_BASE_URL	Endpoint or connection string the server talks to.	Yes
MCP_HTTP_ENDPOINT_PATH	Filesystem location the server is allowed to use.	Optional

Example prompts to try

“Use National to nps find parks.”
“Use National to nps get park.”
“Use National to nps get alerts.”

Frequently asked questions

Plan US National Park Service trips — parks, alerts, campgrounds, things to do, events. Confirm the tools offered by your installed version in the connected client. Tool availability and permissions depend on the server and account configuration.