Denver, CO to Los Angeles, CA - May 2012

[Lifemagician]

You might like to add an extra night along the PCH, you won't make it to LA from Monterey, in one day's driving. The coastal road is spectacular, with many pull offs and overviews. As well as that, it is slow going. You may like to consider stopping somewhere around Morro Bay, before heading into LA the following day.

Lifey

[glc]

I'm afraid 8 hours from LV to Yosemite may be wishful thinking. Why not take 2 days and see Death Valley on your way?

[Southwest Dave]

I agree, going direct from LV to Yosemite is going to be a long day and probably more like 10 hours with some short stops for food and to fill with gas etc. I would consider booking 2 nights in Yosemite NP and the first of your 3 nights scheduled there, leave open to change and stop just short of Yosemite. The Tioga is a spectacular drive that would take you through Death valley, but as previously mentioned, it might be closed. The later you travel in May the more chance of it opening in time and that is why I would leave that night flexible. If the pass is open, you could stop around Mammoth lakes or Lee Vining just a short drive to the Tioga entry kiosk, or if it is closed and you have to go via Bakersfield, you could stop in Oakhurst and take the short journey to the south entrance next morning.

I would take a night from LA and spend another night along the coast [as suggested by Lifey] and finish the journey off next day. If that's not something you want to do then I would leave SF reasonably early and get at least as far as Cambria for an over night stop.

One thing for sure, you are in for a heck of a good time !!