Do I need an RIDB API key?

Yes. Sign up at https://ridb.recreation.gov/profile and export RIDB_API_KEY in your environment.

What data sources does RIDB search pull from?

RIDB contains federal recreation data; some state/private campgrounds may not be listed. Geocoding uses OpenStreetMap/Nominatim.

What outputs can I get?

You can view a human-readable list or use --json for structured data; the 'id' field is the RIDB campground ID used for availability checks on recreation.gov.

Recreation Information Database Search

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RIDB Search

Search recreation.gov's database for campgrounds and facilities near a location.

Setup

Requires a free RIDB API key:

Go to https://ridb.recreation.gov/profile
Sign up and generate an API key
Set environment variable: export RIDB_API_KEY=your_key_here

Usage

Search by location name (auto-geocodes):

python scripts/search.py --location "Bend, OR" --radius 50
python scripts/search.py -l "Yosemite Valley" -r 25 --camping-only

Search by coordinates:

python scripts/search.py --lat 44.0582 --lon -121.3153 --radius 50

Options

Flag	Description
`--location, -l`	Location name to geocode (e.g., "Bend, OR")
`--lat`	Latitude (use with --lon)
`--lon`	Longitude (use with --lat)
`--radius, -r`	Search radius in miles (default: 50)
`--limit`	Max results (default: 50)
`--camping-only`	Filter to camping facilities
`--reservable-only`	Filter to reservable facilities
`--json`	Output JSON (for programmatic use)

Output

Human-readable (default):

📍 Geocoded 'Bend, OR' to 44.0582, -121.3153

Found 23 facilities within 50 miles
------------------------------------------------------------

🏕️  Tumalo State Park
   ID: 234567 | ✅ Reservable
   Org: Oregon State Parks
   URL: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234567

JSON output (--json):

{
  "query": {"latitude": 44.0582, "longitude": -121.3153, "radius_miles": 50},
  "total_count": 23,
  "facilities": [
    {
      "id": "234567",
      "name": "Tumalo State Park",
      "reservable": true,
      "url": "https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234567"
    }
  ]
}

Notes

RIDB contains federal recreation data; some state/private campgrounds may not be listed
The id field is the campground ID used for availability checks on recreation.gov
Radius is in miles (RIDB native unit)
Geocoding uses OpenStreetMap/Nominatim (free, no key required)

Source

git clone https://clawhub.ai/seanrea/ridb-searchView on GitHub

Overview

Search Recreation.gov's RIDB data for campgrounds and recreation facilities near a location or coordinates. It supports city-based geocoding, lat/lon searches, radius filtering, and options to show only camping and/or reservable facilities. Requires a RIDB API key to query the database.

How This Skill Works

Set the RIDB_API_KEY environment variable, then run the Python search script with either a location (-l/--location) or latitude/longitude (-lat/-lon) and a radius (-r). The tool queries RIDB and returns matching facilities; use --json for a structured JSON payload that includes IDs (used for availability checks on recreation.gov).

When to Use It

You need campgrounds or recreation areas near Bend, OR within a 50-mile radius.
Planning a trip to Yosemite Valley and want federal facilities nearby using geocoding rather than coordinates.
You want to filter results to camping-only facilities.
You require reservable-only options for quick booking.
You need a JSON feed for automation or integration with other tools.

Quick Start

Step 1: Set up API key: export RIDB_API_KEY=your_key_here
Step 2: Run a location-based search: python scripts/search.py --location "Bend, OR" --radius 50
Step 3: Optional: add --json for machine-readable results and filters like --camping-only or --reservable-only

Best Practices

Use a location-based search when possible to leverage geocoding and OpenStreetMap data.
Combine --camping-only with --reservable-only if you need campgrounds you can book.
Always use the returned id; this RIDB ID is used for availability checks on recreation.gov.
Use --json for programmatic consumption and downstream parsing.
Acknowledge RIDB may omit some state/private campgrounds; rely on RIDB for federal data primarily.

Example Use Cases

Geocode Bend, OR to coordinates and find 23 facilities within 50 miles; shows Tumalo State Park (ID 234567) with a URL.
Search by coordinates 44.0582, -121.3153 within a 50-mile radius and retrieve nearby camping options.
Run a camping-only search to list campgrounds near a city and review which are reservable.
Use --json to obtain a structured payload with query, total_count, and facility entries for automation.
Default radius search (50 miles) returns multiple federal facilities; verify IDs for availability checks.

Frequently Asked Questions

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