Aiming　to　introduce　a　simplified　flexible　design　model　for　thermal　actions　in　concrete　bridge　superstructures,　experimental　and　finite　element　works　were　carried　out　in　this　study.　From　an　experimental　concrete　box-girder　segment,　concrete　temperature,　solar　radiation,　air　temperature　and　wind　speed　records　for　a　complete　one-year　cycle　were　recorded　and　utilized.　In　addition,　a　thermal　finite　element　model　was　conducted　and　verified,　which　was　then　used　to　conduct　required　parametric　studies.　Finally,　the　verified　finite　element　model　was　used　together　with　long-term　climate　history　(from　1960　to　2013)　of　10　cities　in　Turkey　to　propose　the　thermal　actions＇　design　models　and　procedure.　Both　positive　and　negative　vertical　temperature　gradient　models　were　introduced　in　terms　of　the　top　surface　maximum　temperature　gradient,　which　is　related　to　the　solar　radiation　history　of　the　region.　In　addition,　simplified　correlations　and　design　procedure　were　suggested　to　evaluate　the　maximum　and　minimum　mean　temperatures　of　concrete　bridges　using　the　long-term　maximum　and　minimum　air　temperatures.