In Pixar's Cars, what town does Lightning McQueen accidentally visit?

In Pixar's Cars, Lightning McQueen accidentally visits the fictional town of Radiator Springs.

After becoming separated from his transport truck, Lightning damages a road in Radiator Springs while trying to leave town. The local judge, Doc Hudson, orders him to repair it before departing. This requirement keeps the rookie race car in the community and begins his change from a self-focused competitor into a more considerate friend.

Radiator Springs is presented as a once-thriving Route 66 settlement bypassed by a new interstate. Its residents include Sally Carrera, Mater, Luigi, Guido, Ramone, Flo, and Fillmore. The town's fading tourist economy is closely tied to the loss of traffic from the old highway.

The name is sometimes confused with real Route 66 towns, but Radiator Springs is fictional. Pixar based parts of its look and history on real roadside communities, especially places affected by interstate construction. The film's story ends with renewed interest in the town after the Piston Cup racing world discovers it.