In Pixar’s Cars, what state is Radiator Springs located in?

In Pixar’s Cars, Radiator Springs is located in Arizona.

The fictional town sits along historic U.S. Route 66, the highway that once connected Chicago with Santa Monica. Its location explains why the town has roadside businesses, motels, and other features associated with classic American road travel. Lightning McQueen discovers Radiator Springs after accidentally leaving the interstate and damaging the road.

The film never presents Radiator Springs as a real Arizona town. It is a fictional community inspired by real Route 66 places, including towns visited by the filmmakers during research trips. The story’s setting reflects the decline of many older highway communities after Interstate 40 redirected traffic away from Route 66.

A common mix-up is identifying the setting as California because Lightning is traveling toward a California race. However, Radiator Springs is presented as an Arizona community, and the film’s visual landscape draws on the American Southwest.