U.S. Route 66 inspired Pixar’s depiction of Radiator Springs in Cars.
Route 66 was established in 1926 and connected Chicago with Santa Monica across the United States. The highway became famous through tourism, migration, roadside businesses, and popular culture before much of its traffic was replaced by interstate highways.
Pixar’s creative team researched Route 66 communities and landmarks while developing Cars. The film’s fictional town captures the effect of a bypass: once-busy roadside businesses lose visitors when a faster modern road redirects traffic elsewhere.
Radiator Springs is not a literal copy of one town. Instead, it combines details from several Route 66 locations and celebrates the road’s historic importance. This setting helps explain why the film includes roadside motels, garages, neon signs, and a strong sense of community.