In Pixar's 2006 film Cars, what fictional California town does Lightning McQueen visit?

In Pixar's 2006 film Cars, Lightning McQueen visits the fictional California town of Radiator Springs.

Radiator Springs is located along the historic U.S. Route 66 in the film's story. Lightning accidentally damages the town's main road while fleeing from a police officer, and a court order requires him to repair it before leaving. The repair project introduces him to the town's residents, including Doc Hudson, Sally Carrera, Mater, and Ramone.

The town's decline is central to the film's emotional background. A new interstate highway has diverted traffic away from Radiator Springs, leaving its businesses struggling. The setting was inspired by real communities along Route 66 and by Pixar's research trips through the American Southwest. Radiator Springs is fictional, although some of its locations and residents echo real roadside landmarks and people. The town also appears in Cars 2 and Cars 3, making it the recurring home base of the franchise.