In Pixar’s Cars, what is the name of Lightning McQueen’s hometown after his detour?

Radiator Springs is the town where Lightning McQueen is stranded in Pixar’s Cars.

After racing across the country toward California, McQueen accidentally damages the road through Radiator Springs and is ordered to repair it. The town’s residents initially resent him, but the repair project introduces him to its history and people. His friendships with Mater, Sally, Doc Hudson, and others gradually change his understanding of success.

Radiator Springs is a fictional town on historic U.S. Route 66. Its decline reflects the effect of interstate highways, which diverted traffic away from many older roadside communities. Pixar artists researched Route 66 locations and used their architecture, landscapes, signs, and local stories as inspiration for the film’s setting.

The name is sometimes confused with a real Route 66 town, but Radiator Springs is invented for Cars. Its design combines features associated with several real places, making it feel geographically authentic while remaining a fictional community.