If you need a fun pit stop when driving Route 66 in Kansas, this stop is for you: Luigi’s Pit Stop in Galena, Kansas.
The 2006 Pixar film Cars is set in a world where anthropomorphic talking cars populate the world. In it, hotshot race car Lightning McQueen prioritizes winning above all else. Stuck in the forgotten town of Radiator Springs after an unexpected detour, McQueen learns valuable lessons about friendship and community from the quirky car residents. Through his experiences, McQueen discovers the importance of the journey, not just the checkered flag.
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While the movie is set in the fictional Radiator Springs, it was deeply inspired by the sites and people that make up Route 66, America’s Mother Road that was once a major thoroughfare that linked Chicago and Los Angeles. And, since the movie’s release, more and more sites have popped up paying homage to the film.
Galena, Kansas has embraced its ties to Cars like no other town on Route 66. One of the most iconic characters in the film is Tow Mater, a beat-up tow truck who befriends and supports Lightning McQueen and teaches him a couple of tricks along the way. This car was based on an unlikely Route 66 attraction: an old 951 Harvester International Tow Truck that stood outside of a former Kan-O-Tex gas station in Galena, Kansas. Now known as “Cars on the Route,” you can still pull over to visit the now-famous vehicle.
But the Cars love doesn’t stop there. Across the street from Cars on the Route is another roadside attraction that memorializes Cars, Route 66, and Kansas: Luigi’s Pit Stop.
Luigi’s Pit Stop in Galena, Kansas features a slew of fun, interactive murals and cars decked out to resemble the popular characters from the film. The Kansas Route 66 roadside attraction is named after the character Luigi, a yellow 1959 Fiat 500 and longtime Radiator Springs resident who owns the tire shop “Luigi’s Casa Della Tires.”
And Luigi himself is the centerpiece of this Route 66 attraction. A fun three-dimensional mural features a replica of the yellow Fiat bursting out of a wall adorned with paintings of other cars topped with the message, “Welcome Piston Cup Race Fans.” Next to him is a green air pump that serves as a donation jar.
But Luigi isn’t the only Cars character at this Kansas roadside attraction.
Displayed high on a pole you’ll find a 1949 Mercury police car representing the Sheriff of Radiator Springs. The black and white vintage vehicle features the Radiator Springs logo on its door and the signature of Michael Wallis, a Route 66 historian and author who voiced the Sheriff in the Cars movies.
Another addition is Lightning McQueen himself. Unveiled in November 2021, this bright red race car features McQueen’s signature blue eyes and smile along with decals like the Rust-Ez ad he’s known for donning.
These Cars cars surround a pavilion that’s been painted with more fun murals and photo ops that give nods to the movie, Route 66, Kansas, and even The Wizard of Oz. Maintained by the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association, Luigi’s Pit Stop in Galena, Kansas is a must-see pit stop on your Route 66 road trip in Kansas!
Photos of Luigi’s Pit Stop
