Did you ever wonder Where Radiator Springs is?

[Jetlife]

This Thread got me thinking.
I found the answer in Lizzies Curio.
Radiator Springs is located right there between Kingman and Flagstaff.

[whitestrat]

I did until I saw that map!

Its nice to check things off the list

[Bob Weaver]

I've always read it was based on the tiny town of Peach Springs, Arizona, but when I look at pictures of that town it doesn't resemble it to me. But it should be somewhere along old Route 66 between Kingman and Flagstaff. Interstate 40 replaced Route 66 there but you can still drive the old Route 66 from Kingman to Seligman and if you do drive it you pass through Peach Springs along the way. I think they fictionalized and romanticized Peach Springs to the much more enhanced and photogenic Radiator Springs.

[whitestrat]

Didn't they do kind of an amalgam of various aspects of Route 66, based on they're "imagineering" roadtrip through that area?

[Elias1955]

Didn't they do kind of an amalgam of various aspects of Route 66, based on they're "imagineering" roadtrip through that area?

Thats how they designed Radiator Springs, yes... But shouldn't it make sense that this fictional location is in one ​solitary location?

[whitestrat]

Thats how they designed Radiator Springs, yes... But shouldn't it make sense that this fictional location is in one ​solitary location?

Certainly stands to reason

[DrFink]

I always figured it was somewhere in Arizona or Utah.

[clara]

I remember a visit I took to the Grand Canyon back in 2010 and we stopped by Grand Canyon Caverns. The Tour guide said the movie was based on the small town of Peach Springs, where these caverns are located on Route 66. Now maybe it was just promotion on the tour guides' part for the Caverns but it seems right to me. I know someone else above mentioned Peach Springs as well.

[Retrocool]

The map isn't exacting, but that IS roughly the location of Peach Springs, AZ. Check Google Maps, you'll see what I'm saying. Portions of Route 66 follow along or parallel I-40, but between Kingman and Williams, Route 66 takes a sharp curve to the north of I-40. Peach Springs is located in that curve area.

[brianpinsky]

I can tell you I have driven down this area and it’s there is nothing there. The landscape is similar to the movie though. I am glad Pixar did get it right through and John Lasseter did make the town in the correct place in the park which is in Arizona not Ca as in DCA.

[Jetlife]

I remember a visit I took to the Grand Canyon back in 2010 and we stopped by Grand Canyon Caverns. ...

We stopped there in late winter of 2010, but they weren't giving tours, problem with the elevator. The kids liked the Dinosaur out front.
Oh yeah, and that section of road has the Burma Shave signs.