Filesystem vs Recreation Gov
A side-by-side look at the Filesystem and Recreation Gov MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Filesystem for file systems work as a local process; choose Recreation Gov for environment & nature as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Filesystem when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
path, head, tail.
Choose Recreation Gov when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Environment & Nature domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
search_facilities, get_facility, search_recareas.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | Environment & Nature |
| Quality signal | 85/100 · Excellent | 51/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 91,512 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 9 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 17 | 4 |
| Full listing | View Filesystem | View Recreation Gov |
Tools & capabilities
Filesystem tools 17
pathheadtailpathscontenteditsoldTextnewTextdryRunsortBysourcedestination- +5 more on the listing page
Recreation Gov tools 4
search_facilitiesSearch US federal recreation facilities — campgrounds, day-use areas, visitor centers, trailheads — on Recreation.gov. Filter by name/keyword, state, activity (e.g. "camping", "hiking"), or geographic radius. Returns facility IDs, names, types, phone/email, and coordinates. Example: search_faciliti…get_facilityGet full details for a single Recreation.gov facility (e.g. a campground) by its FacilityID. Returns description, directions, ADA access, phone/email, keywords, and coordinates. Example: get_facility({ facility_id: "232447" })search_recareasSearch US federal recreation areas — the parent regions (national parks, national forests, BLM/USACE lands) that contain campgrounds and facilities — on Recreation.gov. Filter by name/keyword or state. Returns RecArea IDs, names, descriptions, phone, and coordinates. Example: search_recareas({ quer…list_campsitesList the individual campsites within a Recreation.gov facility (campground) by FacilityID. Returns campsite IDs, names, type (e.g. "TENT ONLY", "RV"), loop, reservability, and type of use. Example: list_campsites({ facility_id: "232447" })
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Filesystem
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem"
]
}
}
}
Recreation Gov
{
"mcpServers": {
"recreation-gov": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-recreation-gov"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Filesystem is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Recreation Gov belongs to Environment & Nature and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Filesystem for file systems work and Recreation Gov for environment & nature.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Filesystem is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Recreation Gov has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add filesystem and recreation-gov as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Filesystem has a quality signal of 85/100 (Excellent) with 9 views, 0 installs and 91,512 GitHub stars. Recreation Gov has 51/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.