In Pixar’s Cars, what fictional town is located along the old Route 66?

Radiator Springs is the fictional town along the old Route 66 in Pixar’s Cars.

Lightning McQueen reaches Radiator Springs after accidentally damaging the road and being ordered to repair it before leaving. The town’s residents include Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson, Ramone, Flo, Luigi, Guido, and Fillmore. Each character contributes to the town’s distinctive identity and helps Lightning see beyond his racing career.

The setting reflects real communities along Route 66 that declined after newer interstate highways diverted traffic. Sally is especially concerned with preserving Radiator Springs and attracting visitors, while Doc carries a more private history as a former racing champion who settled there.

Radiator Springs is not the same place as Carburetor County, the broader fictional county associated with the town. The name also should not be confused with Radiator Cap, the desert location seen in Cars 2. Pixar designed the town as a composite of researched American roadside landscapes.