Which fictional town on Route 66 is the main setting of Pixar’s Cars?

Radiator Springs is the fictional Route 66 town that serves as the main setting of Pixar’s Cars.

Lightning McQueen reaches Radiator Springs after damaging the road and being ordered to repair it. The town’s residents include Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson, Ramone, Flo, Luigi, Guido, and Fillmore. Their community gives Lightning a perspective very different from the competitive racing world he has known.

Radiator Springs represents the decline of towns bypassed by interstate highways. Its story reflects the real history of U.S. Route 66 communities, especially places that lost traffic after newer roads redirected travelers. Pixar artists researched Route 66 during the film’s development, visiting roadside locations and collecting visual details.

The town is located in the fictional Carburetor County. It remains the central home base in Cars 2 and Cars 3, even when later stories travel to international locations or modern racing venues.