In Pixar’s Cars, which classic American highway passes through Radiator Springs?

In Pixar’s Cars, U.S. Route 66 passes through Radiator Springs.

The fictional town is presented as a once-thriving stop along the historic road. Its decline follows the construction of Interstate 40, which diverts traffic away from the older route and leaves Radiator Springs overlooked by travelers. Lightning McQueen’s accidental stay gives him a new understanding of the town and its residents.

U.S. Route 66 historically ran from Chicago to Santa Monica and became one of the best-known roads in the United States. It was established in 1926 and removed from the United States Numbered Highway System in 1985, although many surviving sections remain tourist attractions.

Cars draws on real Route 66 communities, landmarks, and roadside culture. Radiator Springs itself is fictional, so it should not be treated as a real town located at a specific point on the highway.