PURPOSES : This study aims to determine the type (e.g., melting point, freezing point, latent heat fusion) and optimal content of phase change material (PCM) based on the numerical and experimental analyses evaluating the effects of heat transfer in PCM-modified asphalt pavement systems. METHODS : The effect of PCM on the thermophysical properties of PCM-modified asphalt concrete can be taken as an effective volumetric heat capacity. The volumetric fraction of PCM was calculated using an iterative method. The numerical model was established and computed using the MATLAB 2020 software. The optimum PCM design tool was developed to select the type and contents of the PCM. The PCM was chosen based on the following criteria: black-ice-formation delay time, minimize temperature increase, and increase temperature area. To validate the numerical model, asphalt mixtures were modified with varying PCM contents, and the temperature response of the PCMmodified asphalt samples was examined via temperature test. RESULTS : The numerical results showed that incorporating PCM into the asphalt mixture can slow the cooling rate of the pavement system. The predicted results from the optimum PCM design tool were highly consistent with the measured values from the laboratory temperature test. CONCLUSIONS : The temperature of PCM-modified asphalt pavement can be predicted via numerical method. The effect of PCM on the thermophysical properties can be considered as effective volumetric heat capacity; while the volume fraction of PCM can be calculated via an iterative method. The accuracy of the numerical model was confirmed by a high agreement between the measured and predicted values.