You Can Visit the Small Town in New Mexico That Inspired the Disney Movie ‘Cars’

Whether you're a kid or an adult, nearly everyone loves Disney movies, and we've all imagined what it would be like to step inside these fictional movie destinations in real life. Even though the town of Radiator Springs in Disney's "Cars" is one of these fictional places, 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, and it's a place that we believe should be on your travel wishlist.

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.

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.

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.

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."

Tucumcari is filled with retro hotels, shops like the Route 66 Welcome Center and Gift Shop, and killer places to eat like Del's Restaurant and Kix on 66, which may not have inspired "Cars" directly but are an ode to the movie's feel. 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.

As you can see, this small desert town feels a lot like Radiator Springs in real life, but the best part is that you can actually visit it. After trying the fantastic restaurants and staying in a retro hotel, you won't even need to escape to the fictional town of Radiator Springs.

Before visiting Radiator Springs in real life and looking for other things to do in Tucumcari, New Mexico, check out Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner for customized recommendations. And if you are planning a Route 66 road trip, check out these 20 roadside attractions that you don't want to drive by.