Rodney Parham Road offers a unique window into the layered neighborhoods and evolving landscape of west Little Rock, and today we’re heading southbound for a five-mile stretch that runs from Cantrell Road (Arkansas Highway 10) all the way down to 12th Street near Midtown. It’s a route that takes us through wooded hillsides, past busy interchanges, and into one of the city’s most trafficked commercial corridors — with a little bit of everything along the way.
Our journey begins at the northern end of Rodney Parham Road, where it intersects with Arkansas Highway 10 — better known as Cantrell Road. From this junction, we head south into the heart of west Little Rock. This area is known for its winding terrain and upper-middle-class neighborhoods, and that’s reflected in the tree-lined medians and well-kept subdivisions flanking the road. The road gently descends through a residential area for the first mile and a half, until we reach the busy signal at Green Mountain Drive and Hinson Road. Here, we make a left to stay on Rodney Parham, beginning the more commercially active portion of the route.
As we continue southeast, the landscape transitions from residential to retail — and we quickly approach one of the area’s main highway interchanges at Interstate 430. This major north-south beltway skirts around the west side of Little Rock and provides quick access to both Interstate 630 and Interstate 30, as well as popular north-side destinations like Maumelle and, via I-40, Conway. The Rodney Parham exit here is frequently used by commuters heading to the many office complexes and shopping centers along this corridor. Once through the interchange, Rodney Parham dives into a denser commercial zone — home to everything from fast food to big box stores.
Passing Reservoir Road, the surroundings start to shift again. Van Lee Street marks the point where Rodney Parham begins bending back southward, slipping into older neighborhoods and closer proximity to the edge of Midtown. This portion of the road begins to take on a more transitional character — mixing established neighborhoods with aging strip centers and pockets of newer development. It’s a good representation of how Little Rock is growing and evolving, especially around its core.
As we reach the intersection with Markham Street, we cross into an area where the road starts to run parallel to Interstate 630. Rodney Parham’s southbound alignment briefly heads southeast again as we approach Mississippi Avenue. Here, we make a quick right turn to stay on Rodney Parham — a reminder that this road has several directional shifts along its course. Once through the Mississippi Ave intersection, we’re in the home stretch. The route descends toward its southern terminus at 12th Street, passing through a more urban, mixed-use setting that reflects the Midtown vibe. We end the video just before Rodney Parham meets its end at 12th Street — having traced a path from the wooded hills of west Little Rock down to the inner city edge.
This five-mile drive offers a bit of everything: suburban calm, retail bustle, interstate access, and a glimpse of Little Rock’s shifting urban framework. Whether you’re commuting, exploring, or just enjoying a scenic city drive, Rodney Parham is a route worth knowing.
🗺️ Route Map
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