In Pixar's Cars, which real highway is central to Radiator Springs' backstory?

In Pixar's Cars, U.S. Route 66 is central to Radiator Springs’ backstory.

Radiator Springs is portrayed as a roadside community that flourished when travelers used Route 66. Its fortunes decline after Interstate 40 bypasses the town, diverting through traffic and leaving local businesses with fewer customers. This history explains why the residents value their town and why Lightning’s accidental arrival matters so much to them.

U.S. Route 66 was a real highway established in 1926, running from Chicago to Santa Monica. It became one of the best-known roads in the United States and a major symbol of automobile travel. Much of the route was later replaced by the Interstate Highway System, although historic sections remain important tourist destinations.

Interstate 40 is part of the film’s bypass story, but it is not the historic road that inspires Radiator Springs. The fictional town combines visual and cultural influences from several Route 66 communities, rather than reproducing one exact real location.