Itinerary, Route, Black Forest to Cologne

Hi everyone,
My partner and I are traveling to Germany around the 14th August flying to either Freiburg or Stuttgart. We were planning a week in the Black Forest area which as i read more is huge. The plan is to rent a car stay a week and drive up towards Cologne to visit some friends. Was wondering what would be a good base to visit Black Forest and also would really appreciate (not too touristy spots, which i imagine would be difficult thanks to holidays right now) and maybe a good route to take as we travel up to Cologne. We are pretty flexible with our plans and like to stop by in places as we travel through. However, I do understand we must have some bookings inorder to not find every place sold out. Would Tuebingen or Freiburg be a good base for a few days (or perhaps both). We are looking forward to some hikes and trails in the forest at the same time visiting interesting towns. Would greatly appreciate any recomendations for places to stay too, or budget is not more than 50 to 60 euros a night.
Thank you so much

R

Flying into Freiburg ? Basel/Mühlhausen maybe ?

Tübingen is a nice university town, but not in the Black Forest, rather one hour to the east.

Generally the southern Black Forest is more touristic and probably a bit more crowded and expensive than the central and northern BF. Even though it is holiday time, you will find hotels with free beds anywhere in the area. There are many small hotels and b&b-places, which do not the large booking portals. You will find a bed. Having a car, just drive to the next one. It wont be far away, in case one is crowded. Book in advance only if you need a certain place or some special standard, as some of those small places saw their last refurbishment in the 70ies (theyre clean though). Depending on the weather, also the days before youre stay, you will find places on higher ground much colder than down in the valleys.

As places to stay I mention Zell am Harmersbach, a pretty town near the central Kinzigtal.

There are hiking tracks in any parts of the Black Forest, just enquire with the local tourist information. Places to see I recommend Gengenbach, Schiltach, Durbach, Kappelrodeck, Freudenstadt, Baden-Baden, Strasburg in France.