In Pixar's Cars, what California town does Lightning McQueen visit after getting lost?

In Pixar's Cars, Lightning McQueen visits Radiator Springs after getting lost.

Lightning is separated from his transport truck, Mack, while traveling toward California for a tiebreaker race. He accidentally leaves the interstate and reaches Radiator Springs, where a chase causes damage to the town's road. The local judge orders him to repair it before departing.

Radiator Springs is a fictional community in Carburetor County. Its setting draws strongly on real Route 66 towns and roadside landmarks in the American Southwest. The town's decline is linked to the construction of Interstate 40, which redirects travelers away from the old highway.

The visit changes Lightning's understanding of competition and friendship. Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson, Mater, Luigi, Guido, and other residents each contribute to his transformation. Radiator Springs remains the central home setting in Cars 2 and Cars 3, even when much of their action takes place elsewhere.