In Pixar's Cars, what California town does Lightning McQueen visit after leaving the highway?

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

McQueen reaches Radiator Springs after accidentally damaging the town's road while trying to escape Sheriff. A court order requires him to repair the road, keeping him there instead of immediately traveling to the Piston Cup finale. The unexpected stay becomes the central change in his life.

Radiator Springs is located on the historic Route 66 in the film's fictional geography. Its decline follows the construction of a faster interstate that bypasses the town, a storyline inspired by real Route 66 communities. The town's residents include Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson, and several other vehicles.

Radiator Springs is not the name of the race or McQueen's original home. It is the setting where he learns about friendship, community, and the importance of slowing down.