In Pixar's Cars, Radiator Springs is located along Route 66.
The film presents the town as a once-thriving stop on the historic Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway. Its decline begins after a modern interstate bypasses the community, diverting travelers and damaging local businesses. This fictional history reflects the real experience of many Route 66 towns after newer roads made long-distance travel faster.
Route 66 was established in 1926 and ran for about 2,448 miles before it was officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985. Pixar used the road's neon signs, motels, service stations, and desert landscapes as major visual and cultural inspirations for Radiator Springs.
A common mix-up is identifying Interstate 40 as the road in the story. Interstate 40 replaced or paralleled much of Route 66 in the Southwest, but Route 66 is the historic road associated with the town's identity. Cars also helped renew public interest in Route 66 tourism.