Whether you’re a kid or an adult, everyone loves Disney movies and we’ve all imagined what it would be like to experience these fictional towns in real life. Have you ever asked yourself, “Where does Cars take place?” Even though the town of Radiator Springs in Disney’s “Cars” is a fictional town, Tucumcari is a real desert town on Historic Route 66 in New Mexico. Tucumcari played a big role in inspiring the movie “Cars” from the neon light hotels to the expansive desert mountains in the backdrop. Let’s take a look at some things to do in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and what parts of the town look a lot like Radiator Springs in real life so you know where to go next time you visit this charming New Mexico desert town.

While many different towns situated along Historic Route 66 served as sources of inspiration for the Disney movie "Cars," Tucumcari played a big role in some of the most iconic scenes in the Pixar film.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
The movie is set in a fictional town called Radiator Springs. While this town is purely fictional, Historic Route 66 is not, and many of the landmarks in the film were inspired by real places, such as Baxter Springs in Kansas, Peach Springs in Arizona, and even elements of Tucumcari right here in New Mexico.
Mobilus In Mobili/Wikimedia Commons
One of the most memorable contributions to the film was Tucumcari's Blue Swallow Motel. In the movie, there's a famous neon sign that says "100% Refrigerated Air." You can visit this sign in real life at the Blue Swallow Motel.
Sylvain L./Flickr
In fact, we even wrote a whole article about the Blue Swallow Motel that you can check out.
Another notable view in the movie is the big mountain in the backdrop that is seemingly shaped like a radiator cap. This is actually Tucumcari Mountain, which is over 4,000 feet tall. In "Cars," the mountain is painted with an "RS" for Radiator Springs, but in reality, the residents of Tucumcari have hand painted the mountain with a "T."
Billy Hathorn/Wikimedia Commons
Tucumcari is filled with retro hotels, shops, and killer restaurants that may not have inspired "Cars" directly, but are an ode to the feel of the movie. Some have mistaken the Tee Pee Curios for the Cozy Cone Motel in the movie, but this was actually based on the two Wigwam Motels in Holbrook, Arizona and San Bernardino, California.
BFS Man/Flickr
As you can see, this small desert town feels a lot like Radiator Springs, but the best part is that you can actually visit it. After trying the amazing restaurants and staying in a retro hotel, you won't even need to escape to the fictional town of Radiator Springs.
While you may not run into Lightning McQueen or Mater on your visit, the town of Tucumcari is always beautiful, and it's so fun to see up close all the ways it inspired the Disney movie Cars. If you've ever wondered "is Radiator Springs real?" now you know!
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
Take a look at this video of Route 66 New Mexico by @TravelwithaWiseguy:

Did you know that New Mexico’s own Tucumcari inspired so much of this famous Pixar movie? It’s our very own Radiator Springs on Route 66. What are your favorite spots to see? We’d love to hear all about your thoughts in the comments!

While you’re visiting, and looking for other things to do in Tucumcari, New Mexico, take a little trip to this unassuming general store that also has some of the most amazing barbecue in the state.

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Where Does Cars Take Place

Katie Lawrence | June 28, 2022

Where does Cars take place?

If you've ever found yourself wondering "Where does "Cars" take place?" the answer is multifactorial. While it's true that our very own Tucumcari inspired several buildings and other landmarks in the film, it isn't the only town that Radiator Springs is based on. Several small towns along Historic Route 66, including Peach Springs, Arizona, Shamrock, Texas, and Baxter Springs, Kansas, all played important roles in creating the fictional desert outpost we could all recognize anywhere.

Is there a Radiator Springs in real life?

"Is there a Radiator Springs in real life?" is another question you might have asked yourself while watching "Cars." The answer is both yes and no. While Radiator Springs is not a real town, as outlined in the article above, it isn't entirely make-believe, either. Bits and pieces of actual Route 66 towns are featured in many different scenes of the film. Let's take the town of Galena, Kansas, for example. Here, you'll find an old gas station called Cars on the Route, and the iconic character "Mater" was inspired by an L-170 truck that used to sit out front. Often, cars painted like the other main characters show up at the station and they're more than happy to pose for photo-ops!

What are the best small towns in New Mexico?

Tucumcari isn't the only quirky small town in New Mexico. In fact, Hatch was named among the best small towns in New Mexico by Smithsonian Magazine in 2021. This charming village of around 2,000 is known as the Chile Capital of the World - hence the name "Hatch." Foodies, in particular, will fall in love with Hatch — from world-famous cheeseburgers to stores that sell nothing but chile products, there's something to please every palate here. If you're a diehard chile fan, don't miss the Hatch Chile Festival during Labor Day Weekend! The festival celebrates the annual hatch chile harvest, attracting more than 30,000 attendees each year.

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Tucumcari, NM 88401, USA