What is the name of the small Arizona town where Lightning McQueen is stranded in Cars?

Lightning McQueen is stranded in Radiator Springs in Pixar’s Cars.

The fictional town lies on historic U.S. Route 66 in Arizona. After damaging the town’s main road during a nighttime escape, Lightning is ordered by the local judge, Doc Hudson, to repair it. His work brings him into contact with residents such as Mater, Sally Carrera, Ramone, Flo, and Fillmore.

Radiator Springs was inspired by real Route 66 communities and roadside landmarks. Pixar artists and filmmakers traveled along the highway to study its landscapes, buildings, signs, and changing fortunes after newer interstate roads diverted traffic away from many towns.

Radiator Springs is more than a backdrop: it supplies the film’s central contrast between speed and community. Lightning arrives focused on winning the Piston Cup, but the town’s history and residents gradually change his priorities. The location also returns in Cars 2 and Cars 3.