In Pixar’s Cars, which route does Radiator Springs stand beside?

In Pixar’s Cars, Radiator Springs stands beside Route 66.

The fictional town’s identity is built around historic U.S. Route 66, the highway that once connected Chicago and Santa Monica. In the film, Radiator Springs loses much of its traffic after a faster interstate bypass is opened. That change explains the town’s empty roads, faded businesses, and concern about disappearing visitors.

Pixar filmmakers researched Route 66 during the development of Cars. They visited roadside landmarks and spoke with people connected to the historic highway. The film transforms real regional details into a fictional community populated by vehicles, including a tire shop, a café, a courthouse, and a drive-in theater.

Route 66 was removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, but it remains a major cultural symbol of American road travel. Cars helped renew international interest in the route and in the small towns and landmarks associated with it. Radiator Springs is fictional, but its history reflects real changes in American transportation.