Doing Vegas-Cali with the kids and wifey....Advice Requested

[Tri-Tip]

Vegas to San Diego is at least 6 hours driving time, plus whatever stops you make assuming there are no traffic backups. San Diego to the Long Beach area can be anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hours depending on traffic. Long Beach to Beverly Hills can be 45 minutes if wide open, and up to 2 hours in traffic.

To go from the LA area to San Francisco, if you have the time, I would recommend highway 1 the entire way. Plan on it taking the entire day, and a great place to stop over for the night is the Monterey/Carmel area, and then just an hour or so more to San Fracisco the next morning. Prices there are nuts for hotels, last time we were they, we stayed at the Embassy Suites near the airport. Price was about half of the price in San Francisco proper, and parking was free (as opposed to $40 at a hotel).