In Pixar's Cars, which type of road is Radiator Springs built around?

Radiator Springs in Pixar's Cars is built around historic U.S. Route 66.

The film presents the town as a once-thriving stop on the famous highway. Its decline follows the construction of a bypassing interstate, which diverts travelers away from the old road and leaves local businesses struggling.

This fictional history reflects real Route 66 communities. The highway connected Chicago and Santa Monica and became associated with long-distance travel, roadside businesses, and American popular culture. Pixar artists and filmmakers traveled along Route 66 while researching the film.

The movie uses the road to connect its themes of speed, memory, and community. Route 66 is sometimes called the Mother Road, but that nickname is not the name of the fictional town or county.