Which fictional Arizona town is the setting for most of Pixar’s Cars?

Radiator Springs is the fictional Arizona town where most of Pixar’s Cars takes place.

Lightning McQueen reaches Radiator Springs after accidentally damaging its road and being ordered to repair it. The town’s residents—including Mater, Sally, Doc Hudson, and Luigi—gradually teach him to value friendship and community more than a racing trophy.

Radiator Springs was inspired by real communities and landmarks along historic U.S. Route 66. The film uses that connection to explore how newer highways and changing travel patterns can leave older roadside towns isolated. Its fictional geography combines recognizable Southwestern scenery with a vehicle-centered society.

Radiator Springs is sometimes confused with Ornament Valley, the broader fictional region seen in the film and at Disney theme-park attractions. The town itself is the specific setting for the courthouse, Cozy Cone Motel, Flo’s V8 Café, and the other central locations.