If you only had 1 night

Arles is nice, but the learning curve on trying to find parking is steep. Les Baux is a very nice stop, and you might look into staying there.

Nimes.

Nimes has some interesting Roman remains- i find the arena and its surroundings fascinating. I also enjoyed Pont Du gard more than I would have expected. probably the thought that these ancient buildings survived. Also "seemed" to me more compact than Arles, especially if you will only be there one night

Thanks for your replys! We will be driving. Originally we were going to stay in Aix en Provence but with it being rather large, decided with a car it could get a little much. We won't have a GPS, just maps. We are looking for easy access and a town with a little character if possible. Although we do plan on short visits to Nimes and Arles but time could prohibit us. If anyone has their thoughts on a not to miss place I'd love to hear what you think! Thanks again!

Spoil yourself with a GPS. I predict you'll be glad you did. Of those who have actually used GPS IN EUROPE, the voting here has been about 300 to 5 in favor of GPS. Typical comments are: "I didn't realize how much easier it would make driving in Europe, won't do another European road trip without it."

Thanks for the head up on the GPS, I've been a little concerned about driving around Provence without one. I've heard the roads may not be marked well and you could be taking quite a detour!

I like the town of Cassis, which is about a half hour east of Marseilles, right on the Mediterranean. It is a picturesque town with a harbor full of boats, some of which provide tours of the Calanques, the beautiful inlets along the coast. It also has a square in the harbor where men play petanque and a nice little beach. Great market on Fridays.

"I've been a little concerned about driving around Provence without one. I've heard the roads may not be marked well and you could be taking quite a detour!" That has been my experience, the French concept of road signs, especially in southern France, seems different than what we're used to. Having a GPS seems to reduce stress and saves time wasted getting lost (yep, there are always those who say, "Oh, I enjoyed getting lost!" But I wonder. At least with a GPS you have a choice: if you want to go to your destination the first time, turn the GPS on, and if you want to enjoy the thrill of being lost, just turn it off.

Nancy: To get back to your original question, good suggestions have already been made, all roughly half way between Carcassonne and Nice. I didn't enjoy driving in Nimes, liked it better when I went back by train. The historic center of Arles can also be a challenge with a car. Country accommodations are easier with a car. But places like Nimes or Arles can work with a car, if you book lodging where they clearly indicate they provide secure overnight parking.

Arles and Nimes are both fun, and both would be a good choice. The Arena in Nimes in second to none, so don't miss it. Pont du Gard is another don't miss (great picnicing here if you bring the supplies). I travelled all throughout southern France without a GPS, just using maps and it worked. However, we did have detours (found some cool stuff this way) and you might want to avoid this if you're limited on time. A few months later, we headed to Germany with a GPS and it was MUCH better. I don't think that I would travel in Europe again without a GPS now that I've used one.