# Mapbox

> Official Mapbox MCP — geocoding, directions, isochrones, search, and tiles across the Mapbox API surface.

[Canonical HTML page](https://top-mcps.com/mcp/mapbox) · [server.json](https://top-mcps.com/mcp/mapbox.json) · [methodology](https://top-mcps.com/about/methodology)

## Install

### Claude Desktop — `claude_desktop_config.json`

Paste under mcpServers. Fully quit and reopen Claude after editing.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mapbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@mapbox/mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Claude Code — `CLI or .mcp.json`

Run from your repo. Commit .mcp.json to share with your team.

```shell
# export MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN=pk.your_mapbox_token
claude mcp add mapbox -- npx -y @mapbox/mcp-server
```

### Cursor — `.cursor/mcp.json`

Global path: ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Reload window after editing.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mapbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@mapbox/mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code — `.vscode/mcp.json`

VS Code uses the "servers" key (not "mcpServers").

```jsonc
{
  "servers": {
    "mapbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@mapbox/mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Windsurf — `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`

Open via Cascade → hammer icon → Configure.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mapbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@mapbox/mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Cline — `cline_mcp_settings.json`

Open via the Cline sidebar → MCP Servers → Edit.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mapbox": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@mapbox/mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Continue — `~/.continue/config.json`

Continue uses modelContextProtocolServers with a transport block.

```json
{
  "experimental": {
    "modelContextProtocolServers": [
      {
        "transport": {
          "type": "stdio",
          "command": "npx",
          "args": [
            "-y",
            "@mapbox/mcp-server"
          ],
          "env": {
            "MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
          }
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

### Codex CLI — `~/.codex/config.toml`

Codex uses TOML. Each server is a [mcp_servers.<name>] subtable.

```shell
# ~/.codex/config.toml
[mcp_servers.mapbox]
command = "npx"
args = [
  "-y",
  "@mapbox/mcp-server",
]
env = { MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN = "${MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN}" }
```

### Zed — `~/.config/zed/settings.json`

Zed calls them "context_servers". Settings live-reload on save.

```jsonc
{
  "context_servers": {
    "mapbox": {
      "command": {
        "path": "npx",
        "args": [
          "-y",
          "@mapbox/mcp-server"
        ]
      },
      "env": {
        "MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### ChatGPT — `ChatGPT → Settings → Connectors (remote URL)`

Paste this into Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector. Requires ChatGPT Pro / Team / Enterprise / Edu with Developer mode enabled. ChatGPT supports remote HTTPS MCP servers only — stdio servers must be hosted on a public HTTPS endpoint first.

```json
{
  "name": "Mapbox",
  "transport": "http",
  "url": "https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp"
}
```

## At a glance

- **Maintainer:** Mapbox
- **Transport:** stdio, Streamable HTTP
- **Auth model:** API key
- **Required secrets:** MAPBOX_ACCESS_TOKEN
- **Supported clients:** Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Any MCP-compatible client
- **License:** MIT
- **Language:** TypeScript
- **Latest version:** latest
- **Last verified:** 2026-06-11
- **GitHub stars:** 345 (fetched 2026-06-17T07:09:46.813Z)
- **Score:** 84/100 (rubric 2026-04 — see https://top-mcps.com/about/methodology)
- **Source:** https://github.com/mapbox/mcp-server

## Security & scope

- **Access scope:** network
- **Sandbox:** Authenticates with a Mapbox access token. API access scope matches the token's allowlist of APIs.
- **Gotchas:**
  - Secret tokens (`sk.*`) include billing-management scopes — never hand one to an agent. Use public tokens (`pk.*`) with the minimum scope set.
  - The Static Images API counts against monthly billable image quota; high-volume agents can rack up bills fast.

## Quick answer

**What it does.** Exposes Mapbox geocoding, directions, isochrones, distance matrices, and search-box POI lookup as MCP tools. Hosted remote endpoint plus first-party npm server.

**Best for:**
- Geocoding addresses at scale
- Driving and walking directions
- Isochrones (drive-time polygons)
- POI search via Search Box
- Static map image generation

**Not for:**
- Street View imagery
- Consumer turn-by-turn navigation UI
- Indoor mapping

## Recipes

### Build a drive-time map for site selection

```
Using the Mapbox MCP, compute a 20-minute drive-time isochrone around 123 Main St, Brooklyn. Return a static-image URL of the polygon overlaid on a map.
```

_Tested with: Claude Desktop, Cursor_

## Description

Mapbox's official MCP wraps the company's Search, Directions, Matrix, Isochrone, and Tiles APIs so an AI agent can geocode an address, plan a route, compute drive-time polygons, or look up POIs without a wrapper SDK. Available as a hosted remote endpoint at `https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp` or as a local stdio server via `@mapbox/mcp-server`. Requires a Mapbox access token.

## Why it matters

Google Maps is the obvious answer for consumer "where is X" queries but it is rate-limited, billed, and ToS-restrictive for agent workflows. Mapbox is the developer-default alternative — generous free tier, a clean REST surface, and now a first-party MCP so an agent can drive it as a primitive instead of through scraped JS.

## Key features

- Hosted remote endpoint at `https://mcp.mapbox.com/mcp`
- First-party npm server `@mapbox/mcp-server`
- Geocoding, directions, isochrones, matrix, search-box
- Static images and vector tile metadata
- Bring-your-own Mapbox access token (pk.* or sk.*)

## FAQ

### Hosted endpoint or npm install — which should I use?

The hosted endpoint at `mcp.mapbox.com/mcp` is the shortest path — no install, just supply your access token in the OAuth/handshake. The npm server is better if you want to pin a version, run inside a corporate proxy, or audit traffic locally.

### What kind of token do I need?

A Mapbox access token from account.mapbox.com. Public tokens (`pk.*`) cover everything except billing-management APIs; for agent use a token scoped to the minimum required APIs is the safe default.

### Does it expose static images?

Yes — the Static Images API is wrapped, so an agent can return a map PNG of a route or a region as part of its answer.

### Is there a rate limit?

Mapbox enforces per-token rate limits that vary by API (Search ~600/min on free, Directions ~300/min). Tight agent loops can hit them; the server surfaces 429s as tool errors so the model can back off.

## Changelog

- **2026-06-11** — Refreshed install snippets and fact sheet; verified for 2026.
- **2025-09-01** — Initial directory listing.