What highway inspires the setting and journey in Pixar's Cars?

U.S. Route 66 inspires the setting and journey in Pixar's Cars.

The film's fictional town of Radiator Springs is presented as a once-busy stop along a historic road that lost traffic after a modern interstate bypass was built. That idea reflects the history of Route 66, which connected Chicago and Santa Monica and became closely associated with American road travel.

Pixar artists researched Route 66 communities, roadside attractions, landscapes, and architecture while developing the film. Places and visual details from the real highway helped shape Radiator Springs and its surrounding desert scenery. The road's cultural image also suited a story about slowing down and appreciating overlooked places.

Route 66 is sometimes called the Mother Road. It was established in 1926 and officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985, although its identity remains important in tourism and popular culture. Cars does not take place in a real Route 66 town; Radiator Springs is fictional, but its inspiration is unmistakable.