What real highway helped inspire the setting of Pixar's Cars?

U.S. Route 66 helped inspire the setting of Pixar's Cars.

The filmmakers researched Route 66 and its roadside communities while developing Radiator Springs, the fictional Arizona town where Lightning McQueen becomes stranded. The town reflects the highway's history of motels, diners, service stations, and attractions that declined after the construction of interstate highways.

John Lasseter and members of the production team traveled along Route 66 to study its landscapes and surviving businesses. Those observations influenced the film's sense of place, including its desert scenery and the idea of a once-busy town losing passing traffic.

Route 66 originally connected Chicago and Santa Monica and was established in 1926. It was removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, but historic sections remain a major road-trip and heritage destination. Cars does not depict one exact town; Radiator Springs is a fictional blend of Route 66 influences.