In Pixar's Cars, which real highway is the inspiration for Radiator Springs?

U.S. Route 66 is the real highway that inspires Radiator Springs in Pixar’s Cars.

The film uses Radiator Springs to celebrate the history and atmosphere of Route 66, the famous road that once connected Chicago and Santa Monica. The town’s economic decline occurs after Interstate 40 bypasses it, echoing the effect modern highways had on many real roadside communities.

Pixar artists and filmmakers researched Route 66 locations and drew on landmarks, landscapes, and local stories from the American Southwest. The film’s roadside businesses, signs, desert scenery, and emphasis on travelers stopping to explore all reflect that cultural history.

Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985, but it remains a major tourism and nostalgia route. Radiator Springs is fictional, so it should not be confused with one specific real Route 66 town.