In Pixar's Cars, U.S. Route 66 inspired the setting and roadside atmosphere of Radiator Springs.
The filmmakers researched Route 66, the historic highway that connected Chicago and Santa Monica. John Lasseter and members of the Cars team traveled along parts of the road to study its landscapes, businesses, signs, bridges, and small communities. Those observations shaped the film’s visual identity.
Radiator Springs is fictional, but its decline reflects the effect of interstate highways on many roadside towns. When travelers began using faster bypasses, businesses located along older routes often lost traffic and customers. In the film, the opening of a highway bypass leaves Radiator Springs isolated and economically weakened.
Route 66 was established in 1926 and officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985. It remains a major cultural symbol of American road travel. The film’s landscape combines details from several real locations rather than reproducing one town exactly.