Pixar’s Cars associates Radiator Springs with the historic American highway Route 66.
The fictional town is presented as a once-thriving stop along the old road, later bypassed by a modern interstate. That background reflects the real history of Route 66, which connected Chicago and Santa Monica and became famous through road travel, roadside businesses, and popular culture.
Pixar filmmakers researched Route 66 before making the film. Their travels helped shape the scenery, small-town atmosphere, roadside landmarks, and characters seen in Radiator Springs. The story’s central conflict—old businesses losing travelers after a faster road opens nearby—draws on the experiences of many real communities along former highway routes.
Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985, but it remains a major cultural symbol. The film’s setting is not an exact real town: Radiator Springs combines features inspired by several Route 66 locations, including places in Arizona and Oklahoma.