Which route inspired the setting of Radiator Springs in Pixar's Cars?

U.S. Route 66 inspired the setting of Radiator Springs in Pixar's Cars. The fictional town reflects the roadside communities that once depended on traffic along the historic highway.

Route 66 connected Chicago and Santa Monica and became famous for its diners, motels, service stations, and roadside attractions. The opening of Interstate 40 bypassed many older stretches of the route, reducing through traffic and changing the fortunes of towns along the way. Cars turns that history into the background of Radiator Springs.

Pixar artists and filmmakers researched Route 66 communities during development. In the film, Sally explains that Radiator Springs was bypassed by a new interstate, leaving it almost forgotten. The town's buildings and landmarks combine details from real Route 66 locations with fictional storytelling and anthropomorphic car characters.