generated: '2026-09-07'
method: searched
source: https://developers.arcgis.com/ai/mcp-arcgis-location-services/
status: published
maturity: beta
name: MCP for ArcGIS Location Services (beta)
description: An Esri-hosted Model Context Protocol server that exposes ArcGIS Location Services — geocoding,
  routing, elevation, static maps and GeoEnrichment — to MCP-compliant clients and AI agents without calling
  the ArcGIS REST APIs directly. Announced in the July 2026 ArcGIS Location Platform release; still labelled
  beta and gated behind an "Allow beta access" portal privilege.
deployment:
  mode: remote
  endpoint: https://location-services-mcp.arcgis.com/beta/mcp
  install: null
  package: null
  auth: oauth
  verified: probed
  probe_prior: (never probed)
  probe: gated
  probe_why: RFC 9728 challenge on the MCP path only
  checked: '2026-09-11'
  source: claimed-backlog re-probe 2026-09-11
server:
  name: arcgis-location-services
  transport: http
  transport_detail: Streamable HTTP
  url: https://location-services-mcp.arcgis.com/beta/mcp
  stdio_available: false
  stdio_note: Esri's own FAQ answers "Is there a local version that uses Stdio transport?" with "No. Currently,
    MCP for ArcGIS Location Services (beta) is only available via a hosted URL using the Streamable HTTP
    transport protocol."
authentication:
  methods:
  - type: api-key
    header: Authorization
    scheme: Bearer
    note: ArcGIS API key credential passed as "Bearer <access token>"
  - type: oauth2
    note: User authentication or app authentication with an ArcGIS OAuth 2.0 credential
    authorization_endpoint: https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/oauth2/authorize
    token_endpoint: https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/oauth2/token
  protected_resource_metadata: https://location-services-mcp.arcgis.com/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource
  authorization_servers:
  - https://arcgis.com/
  required_privileges:
  - Portal service > General privileges > Apps and capabilities > Allow beta access
  - Location services > Geocoding > Geocode (stored)
  - Location services > Routing > Simple routing
  - Location services > Elevation > Elevation service
  - Location services > Static maps > Static maps service
  - Location services > Data Enrichment > GeoEnrichment service
  note: Tools are filtered by the privileges on the presented access token — an under-privileged token
    sees a smaller tools/list.
tools:
- name: find_address_candidates
  category: geocoding
  description: Takes an address or place string and returns coordinates.
  required_privilege: Location services > Geocoding > Geocode (stored)
  source_operation: openapi/esri-geocoding-api-openapi.yml#findAddressCandidates
- name: reverse_geocode
  category: geocoding
  description: Converts coordinates to the nearest address.
  required_privilege: Location services > Geocoding > Geocode (stored)
  source_operation: openapi/esri-geocoding-api-openapi.yml#reverseGeocode
- name: solve_route
  category: routing
  description: Solves a route between a start and end point, with optional intermediate stops and the
    ability to specify departure time for more accurate results.
  required_privilege: Location services > Routing > Simple routing
  source_operation: openapi/esri-routing-api-openapi.yml#solveRoute
- name: elevation_at_locations
  category: elevation
  description: Get the elevation for a given point (latitude and longitude) using the WGS84 coordinate
    system.
  required_privilege: Location services > Elevation
  source_operation: null
- name: map_with_overlay
  category: static-maps
  description: Returns a static map in an ArcGIS Basemap style with points, polylines and/or polygons.
  required_privilege: Location services > Static maps
  source_operation: null
  note: Returns a base64-encoded PNG; some clients cap MCP response payload size.
- name: get_topic_fields
  category: data-enrichment
  description: Returns a set of fields for a topic (e.g. "population") that are available for a specified
    country. Not all topics are available for every country.
  required_privilege: Location services > Geoenrichment
  source_operation: null
- name: describe_location
  category: data-enrichment
  description: Describes the specified location using the fields obtained from get_topic_fields.
  required_privilege: Location services > Geoenrichment
  source_operation: null
prompts:
  note: The server also advertises MCP prompts (prompts/list). Captured from the published prompts reference;
    names and templates only.
  list:
  - name: elevation_at_a_location
    template: Find elevation for the location at {latitude}, {longitude}.
  - name: elevation_at_an_address
    template: What is the elevation of {address}?
  - name: find_address_candidates
    template: Find address candidates for {single_line}.
  - name: highest_point_on_a_route
    template: What is the highest point on the route from {start_address} to {end_address}?
  - name: map_comparing_routes
    template: Show me a map comparing fastest route from {start_address} to {end_address}, with the same
      journey, but going via {waypoint_address}.
  - name: map_of_a_route
    template: Show a map of the route from {start_address} to {end_address}.
  - name: map_of_an_address
    template: Show a map centered on {address}.
  - name: reverse_geocode
    template: Return the address information for the location at {latitude}, {longitude}.
  - name: route_between_two_addresses
    template: How can I drive from {start_address} to {end_address}?
  - name: route_distance
    template: How far is it from {start_address} to {end_address}?
  - name: unsimplified_route_between_two_addresses
    template: Give me the unsimplified route from {start_address} to {end_address}.
  - name: journey_duration_at_specific_time
    template: How long will it take to drive from {start_address} to {end_address} at {date_time}?
  - name: describe_area
    template: Describe the {topics} characteristics within {buffer_distance} meters of {address}.
  - name: compare_areas
    template: Compare the areas within {buffer_distance} meters of {address1} and {address2} using information
      about {topics}.
pricing:
  note: No charge for the MCP protocol itself; each successful tool call is metered against the underlying
    ArcGIS Location Services operation (Geocodes stored, Routes, Elevation values, Static maps, GeoEnrichment).
  docs: https://developers.arcgis.com/ai/mcp-arcgis-location-services/pricing/
clients_documented:
- Microsoft Copilot Studio
- VS Code with GitHub Copilot
- Goose
- Claude
- AWS Kiro
- Postman
docs:
  overview: https://developers.arcgis.com/ai/mcp-arcgis-location-services/
  get_started: https://developers.arcgis.com/ai/mcp-arcgis-location-services/get-started/
  tools: https://developers.arcgis.com/ai/mcp-arcgis-location-services/tools/
  prompts: https://developers.arcgis.com/ai/mcp-arcgis-location-services/prompts/
  faq: https://developers.arcgis.com/ai/mcp-arcgis-location-services/faq/
  early_adopter: https://earlyadopter.esri.com/key/MCPsupportforArcGISLocationServices
x-evidence:
- fetched: '2026-09-07'
  url: https://location-services-mcp.arcgis.com/beta/mcp
  method: POST tools/list (anonymous)
  http_status: 401
  body: '{"error":{"code":499,"message":"Token Required.","details":["The required authentication information
    is missing. Unable to authorize access without a valid token."]}}'
  note: Live tools/list is auth-gated, so the tool inputSchemas above are NOT machine-introspected — names,
    descriptions and privileges come from Esri's published tools reference. Input schemas require an authenticated
    introspection pass.
- fetched: '2026-09-07'
  url: https://location-services-mcp.arcgis.com/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource
  http_status: 200
  content_type: application/json
- fetched: '2026-09-07'
  url: https://developers.arcgis.com/ai/mcp-arcgis-location-services/tools/
  http_status: 200