Route 66 gives Radiator Springs its famous route number in Pixar's Cars.
The town is presented as a once-thriving roadside community bypassed when Interstate 40 is built nearby. That fictional history reflects a real pattern along U.S. Route 66, where towns lost traffic after newer high-speed roads redirected travelers.
Cars uses Radiator Springs to connect its racing story with American road-trip history. Lightning McQueen arrives there while trying to reach the Piston Cup finale, and his time in the town changes his priorities and relationships.
U.S. Route 66 originally ran from Chicago to Santa Monica. It was removed from the United States Highway System in 1985, but its cultural identity remains strong through historic signs, restored businesses, museums, and roadside landmarks. The film's town is fictional, not a literal location on the highway.