What is the name of the desert town where Pixar’s Cars is largely set?

Pixar’s Cars is largely set in the desert town of Radiator Springs.

Lightning McQueen reaches Radiator Springs after accidentally damaging the town’s road while trying to escape from Sheriff. A court order requires him to repair the road, keeping him in the community and introducing him to its residents. The town becomes the setting for Lightning’s change from an isolated celebrity racer into a more considerate friend and teammate.

Radiator Springs is presented as a once-thriving stop on U.S. Route 66. Its decline follows the construction of Interstate 40, which diverts travelers away from the old highway. The fictional town combines details from several real Route 66 communities in the American Southwest, including roadside businesses, desert scenery, and neon signs.

The town should not be confused with the broader Cars world or with the Piston Cup racing circuit. Radiator Springs is the specific community where much of the first film’s character development takes place and where Lightning eventually makes his home.