In Pixar's Cars, Radiator Springs is located along Route 66.
The fictional town is inspired by communities that developed along the historic United States highway. Route 66 once connected Chicago and Santa Monica, crossing a broad section of the American Southwest. The film uses the town's decline after the construction of Interstate 40 as part of its setting and emotional history.
Lightning McQueen reaches Radiator Springs after becoming separated from Mack while traveling to California. His unplanned stay allows him to meet local residents and understand how the bypassed highway changed their lives. The road is therefore more than scenery: it explains the community's isolation and its memories of earlier travelers.
Route 66 is sometimes called the Mother Road. Although the real highway was removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, many preserved sections and roadside attractions remain important cultural landmarks.