In Pixar's Cars, what fictional Arizona town is home to Radiator Springs' residents?

In Pixar's Cars, Radiator Springs is the fictional Arizona town where the main residents live.

The town sits along an old stretch of U.S. Route 66 and has declined after a nearby interstate diverts most traffic away. That setting explains why its businesses are struggling and why its residents remember a busier era. Lightning McQueen reaches Radiator Springs after accidentally damaging the road and is required to repair it before leaving.

Radiator Springs combines several Route 66 locations and landmarks rather than copying one real town exactly. Pixar filmmakers researched the highway and its communities while developing the film, giving the fictional setting a strong connection to American roadside history.

The name is sometimes mistaken for the name of the wider region or the highway itself. Route 66 is the historic road associated with the town, but Radiator Springs is the invented community. Its residents include Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson, and Ramone.