In Pixar's Cars, what historic highway town is Lightning McQueen stranded in?

In Pixar’s Cars, Lightning McQueen is stranded in Radiator Springs.

Radiator Springs is a fictional desert town on the historic U.S. Route 66. McQueen reaches it after becoming separated from his transport truck and damaging the town’s main road. A court order requires him to repair the road before he can leave, giving him time to meet the town’s residents.

The town’s story reflects the decline of many Route 66 communities after the construction of faster interstate highways. Cars presents Radiator Springs as a once-busy roadside stop that lost traffic when motorists bypassed it. Its residents preserve local landmarks, businesses, and memories of the old highway.

The film’s fictional setting combines visual and cultural influences from real Route 66 locations. It should not be confused with a real town named Radiator Springs; the name belongs to Pixar’s fictional world.