In Pixar's Cars, which real highway is represented by Radiator Springs' history?

U.S. Route 66 is the real highway represented by Radiator Springs' history in Pixar's Cars.

The fictional town flourishes when travelers use Route 66, then declines after Interstate 40 diverts traffic away from the old road. That change provides the film's community with a believable economic history and explains why its residents are eager to preserve local landmarks and memories.

Route 66 ran from Chicago to Santa Monica and became strongly associated with cross-country travel, roadside businesses, and American popular culture. Pixar used those associations as the visual and emotional foundation for Radiator Springs.

Radiator Springs itself is not a real town, and the film does not claim that every landmark is copied from one location. Instead, its setting combines features inspired by real Route 66 places and landscapes. The connection is sometimes confused with Interstate 40, the newer highway that bypasses the town in the story.