What is the name of the fictional town where most of Pixar's Cars takes place?

Most of Pixar's Cars takes place in the fictional town of Radiator Springs.

Lightning McQueen reaches Radiator Springs after accidentally damaging the town's road while trying to escape a police escort. A court order requires him to repair the road, keeping him in the community long enough to meet its residents and understand its history.

Radiator Springs is presented as a once-busy Route 66 stop that declined after Interstate 40 diverted travelers away from the old highway. The setting draws on real Route 66 communities, architecture, landscapes, and roadside businesses observed by the filmmakers during research trips.

The town includes recognizable characters such as Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson, Luigi, Guido, and Ramone. Its central role is why the first film's story is about more than racing: the town teaches McQueen the value of friendship, patience, and belonging.