As　one　of　the　most　widely　used　pavement　materials　worldwide,　asphalt　is　renowned　for　its　exceptional　waterproofing,　adhesion,　durability,　and　bonding　properties.　However,　the　rapid　growth　in　traffic　loads　and　driving　speeds　in　recent　years　has　significantly　shortened　the　service　life　of　asphalt　pavements,　leading　to　increased　maintenance　demands　and　heightened　accident　risks　due　to　deteriorated　pavement　conditions.　These　challenges　underscore　the　urgent　need　to　enhance　the　asphalt　pavement　performance　to　meet　the　evolving　demands　of　modern　transportation.　The　advent　of　nanomaterials,　with　their　unique　size-dependent　properties　and　surface　effects,　presents　promising　opportunities　for　improving　the　performance　of　asphalt　mixtures.　This　paper　provides　a　comprehensive　review　of　various　nanomaterials　with　potential　applications　in　asphalt　modification,　focusing　on　their　material　characteristics,　mechanisms　of　action,　and　evaluation　methods.　The　findings　demonstrate　that　incorporating　nanoparticles　can　markedly　enhance　asphalt＇s　properties,　including　its　viscosity,　stiffness,　elasticity,　fatigue　resistance,　aging　resistance,　and　ultraviolet　radiation　resistance,　thereby　improving　pavement　quality　and　prolonging　service　life.　While　challenges　remain,　including　high　costs,　limited　scalability,　and　environmental　concerns,　a　life　cycle　analysis　suggests　that　the　long-term　economic　benefits　of　nanomaterials,　such　as　reduced　maintenance　costs　and　extended　pavement　lifespan,　make　them　a　viable　solution　for　road　engineering.　Future　research　should　prioritize　the　development　of　effective　dispersion　techniques,　the　mitigation　of　environmental　impacts,　and　the　assessment　of　long-term　performance　to　facilitate　the　sustainable　and　large-scale　application　of　nanomaterials　in　road　infrastructure.