What is a good town to stop the first day a few hours east of Frankfurt?

We pick up the rental car at 7:00 AM (Sunday) and would like to get part way to Prague the first day but from last trip we know we don't want to drive too far in case we don't sleep well on the plane.

Would you suggest reservations for this first night? it will be in July.

IPHOFEN. A scenic little town.

From viamichelin.com:
94 mi in 01h42 including 80 mi in 01h12 on expressway.

Wurzburg is a short autobahn putz east and this to me is one of Germany's most underrated cities - on the way to Prague.

Thank you! They both look great. Do you suggest hotel reservations in July?

>>Do you suggest hotel reservations in July?<<

YES. Especially since, as you say, you'll be tired from your flight...

We were very pleased with our stay at this family-run B&B just outside of town: http://www.gaestehaus-duering.de/

Bamberg is an absolute gem of a small city a little over 2 hours drive east of Frankfurt. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site. The "last resting place" for both an Emperor and a Pope. An interesting, well-preserved Altstadt that was never bombed during the war.

http://www.bamberg.info/www_tks/bamb...268_89_7_f.htm

A couple of good hotels: Hotel Brudermuhle and Hotel St. Nepomuk.

http://www.brudermuehle.de/

http://www.hotel-nepomuk.de/e_index.html
Both are right on the river that runs through the middle of the Altstadt.

But there are hotels and Gasthauses in every price range. Including several beer brewers with accomodations, such as:
http://www.faessla.de/englisch.phtml

Yes Bamburg is fabulous - not only neat old city reeking of history but a couple of rivers lovingly bisect the town - may be my choice of any city fairly close east of Frankfurt.