In Pixar's Cars, which route inspires the road through Radiator Springs?

In Pixar's Cars, the road through Radiator Springs is inspired by U.S. Route 66.

The film uses the historic highway as a foundation for its setting, characters, and themes. Route 66 once connected Chicago and Santa Monica and became famous for roadside businesses, motels, diners, and unusual attractions serving long-distance travelers.

Cars shows Radiator Springs losing visitors after Interstate 40 diverts traffic away from the town. That fictional history reflects the experience of real communities along Route 66, many of which suffered economically when faster interstate routes bypassed them.

The movie's production team researched Route 66 extensively. Pixar filmmakers visited locations along the road and incorporated visual details from desert landscapes and roadside architecture. The film does not place Radiator Springs on a single real town; instead, it combines influences from several places in the American Southwest.