Hello redhead and welcome to the board!

You've got plenty of time to do the trip -- 4 or 5 days gives you lots of time to stop and visit places and sightsee. The drive from San Simeon to LA is very doable in one day -- its around 4 hours drive time without stopping somewhere. However, depending upon what you're interesting in visiting or viewing, you can also plan a stop in the Solvang/ Santa Barbara area.

San Francisco to Monterey is from 2 to 4 hours drive time, depending upon traffic and the route you take. But you'll need to add in any time you spend sightseeing around the Bay area, or in Monterey (the aquarium, Cannery Row, etc.)

Monterey to Big Sur is anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending upon where in Big Sur you're heading.

Big Sur to San Simeon is about 90 minutes to an hour, depending upon where you start in the Big Sur area. Plus of course, any stops or sightseeing along the way. For example, at the Elephant Seal colony at Pedro Blancos or at Hearst Castle.

To be honest, if I had to pull out a night, I'll pull out the one in Big Sur, and just plan on Monterey to San Simeon area in a day -- its very drivable in a day, with lots of stops for sightseeing. Then I'd add in a stop somewhere around Solvang to Santa Barbara area to visit the wineries, Santa Barbara to visit the mission and perhaps shopping in the El Paseo area in SB. From SB to LA is about 2-3 hours (depending upon traffic and where in LA you want to go).