Driving from Barcelona to Malaga
 

We are spending 2 weeks in Spain, one week in Barcelona and then driving to Malaga. I understand this is approx. and 11 hr drive. What would be a recommended half way point to stop & spend the night, visit a little and then continue on to Malaga? We can not check into the apartment we've rented before 3 p.m. So I expect we can enjoy our drive without being to stressed to get there.

I would fly - with such a limited amount of time it will be easier to fly and enjoy the sights in Catalunya and Andalucia versus driving in between.

Ditto. Too much driving even if you split it in 2 days.
You'd have to drive by almost anything that makes (a longer) roadtrip down the coast interesting.
Viamichelin.com calculates the costs for gas and tolls at almost €150. Add costs for hotel.
You should easily find a low-cost flight for that budget.
www.whichbudget.com

Or, if you have that one night to play around with anyway:
Take highspeed train from Barcelona to Madrid in the morning (takes just under 3 hrs), spend two 1/2 days and one night in the capital, and travel south on another highspeed train to Málaga in the PM hours of day 2.
Madrid sure is worth more than just one night, but if that's all you got, you could get at least a flavor of the city.
www.renfe.es

Yes, fly.

Thank you for the advice. I thought that flying or train would probably be better, just thought that the drive would be interesting.