In Pixar's Cars, U.S. Route 66 inspired Radiator Springs and its surrounding landscape.
Pixar’s creative team researched Route 66 while developing the film, traveling through parts of the historic highway and observing its roadside architecture, desert scenery, signage, and remaining businesses. Those observations helped shape the fictional town and its characters, including the sense that Radiator Springs was once an important stop for travelers.
Route 66 originally connected Chicago and Santa Monica, California, after being established in 1926. It became famous through automobile travel, popular culture, and migration westward. Much of its importance declined after interstate highways redirected traffic, a historical change echoed by the film’s story about Radiator Springs being bypassed.
Cars does not depict a literal town copied from one location. Instead, its setting combines details from several Route 66 places and landmarks. This is why viewers may recognize elements resembling multiple communities rather than one exact real-world town. The film helped renew public interest in the historic highway and its preservation culture.