The thing about France is that there are so many beautiful, unspoilt towns that you are very rarely disappointed when you stop.
My boys are 24 and 22 now so Dijon is usually our first stop rather than our destination but there’s always something to look at assuming you like castles, old buildings and architecture. If you want modern shopping malls then you will be disappointed.
Assuming you are taking the Autoroute des Anglais then places to stop are:
– Arras. Fantastic WW1 history, buildings, military cemeteries, tunnels etc.
– Bethune, a nice little town square with lots of history
– Saint Quentin, the Basilica or battlefield tours
– Reims, as above
– Troyes, a beautiful medieval town centre. restaurants and small shops