In Pixar's Cars, what town does Lightning McQueen accidentally reach after damaging Route 66?

In Pixar's Cars, Lightning McQueen accidentally reaches Radiator Springs after damaging Route 66.

The fictional town is located along historic U.S. Route 66 in Carburetor County, where Lightning is sentenced to repair the road. He initially sees Radiator Springs as an unwanted delay while trying to reach the Piston Cup tiebreaker in California.

The town's design draws on real Route 66 communities and landmarks. Its residents include Doc Hudson, Sally Carrera, Mater, and Flo. The film presents Radiator Springs as a once-thriving stop bypassed by a new interstate highway.

A common mix-up is confusing the town with Ornament Valley, the surrounding landscape. Radiator Springs is the community itself, while Ornament Valley is the broader setting featured in the Cars franchise and its theme-park attractions.