Which route inspired the setting and road culture of Pixar's Cars?

U.S. Route 66 inspired the setting and road culture of Pixar's Cars.

Route 66 was one of the original United States numbered highways, established in 1926. It connected Chicago with Santa Monica and became closely associated with road trips, roadside businesses, motels, gas stations, and small communities. Pixar's filmmakers researched the route while developing the world of Radiator Springs.

The fictional town is not a literal place on Route 66, but the film uses the highway's history to explain why modern bypasses can isolate older roadside towns. Lightning McQueen's journey gives the story a reason to explore that tension between speed and stopping to appreciate local communities.

Route 66 was removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, yet its cultural importance remains strong. It is sometimes called the Mother Road, a nickname associated with John Steinbeck's 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath. Cars helped introduce this road heritage to a worldwide audience.