In Pixar's Cars, which highway is linked to Radiator Springs?

Pixar's Cars links Radiator Springs to U.S. Route 66.

Radiator Springs is a fictional town in the American Southwest, and its decline is tied to the construction of a new interstate highway that bypasses it. The story reflects the history of real communities along Route 66, the famous highway that once connected Chicago and Santa Monica. When faster roads redirected traffic, many roadside businesses lost visitors.

The film uses this setting to explain why Radiator Springs has become quiet and overlooked. Lightning McQueen's arrival brings attention back to the town, while the residents' stories reveal its earlier importance. Route 66 is often called the “Mother Road,” a nickname associated with its place in American travel culture. Radiator Springs is not a real Route 66 town, although its buildings and landscapes draw inspiration from actual places, including towns in Arizona and New Mexico.