Regarding the weather, San Diego is the best weather ever! 70's and sunny. Our trip was the last 2weeks of June and the first week of July. Once we drove to Los Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Cap Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley and Lake Powell, it was 100 to 111 degrees everyday, we still enjoyed our trip, but did not hike AT ALL, I just cannot take that kind of heat. Sure it's a dry heat, but I felt like I was in a sauna. May would be more comfortable.

May is a great month to travel. Since you have already planned a stop from Zion to Yosemite, you will be fine. It's a couple more hours to go via Bakersfield, but for the most part you will know which route you will have to take as soon as you arrive in LA, unless there is a freak storm that comes in. You will be fine. The temps are much better in May than June.

In Cambria we stayed at Sand Pebbles Inn, most of the places along Moonstone Beach are fine. In Carmel we stayed at the Highlands Inn (which is now a Grand Hyatt) because I managed to talk them dowm from $300 to $150 but probably out of your budget now.

Thanks everyone for your advice!

Think we're going to stick with May as we definitely want to do some hiking, so slightly cooler weather will be better.

Booking flights this evening!

Then onto booking national park accommodation. Does anyone have any recommendations for Yosemite, Zion, Bryce or Grand Canyon (south rim) accommodation?

I will recopy what I recommended above for Zion - great place.

"If you can't get park lodging for Zion, let me recommend Cable Mountain Lodge. It is a 5 min walk over a little bridge into Zion where you are met by the Zion buses. The buses have 9 stops. You can hop on and off at will and they run all the time, we never waited longer than a few minutes. (you can't drive your car thru the park, buses are mandatory) Cable Mountain has kitchenettes and a little market next door where we purchased breakfast items. We then ate our main meal inside Zion at the Lodge. If you go ask for a balcony room overlooking the Virgin River. It is just a little river but I took my coffee there every morning, they have picnic tables and it was such a peaceful way to begin the day. http://www.cablemountainlodge.com/ "

Hi cd, thanks for the recommendation of Cable Mountain Lodge. I've checked though and there's already no availability for next May

I am surprised as I got our June reservations this year in April of this year. Maybe May is a more popular month or maybe I just got cancellations. Cancellations always happen, especially closer to the time wanted.

Ruby's Inn at the entrance to Bryce is always reliable and reasonable.

At Bryce, we stayed at the in park lodging. Very handy. At the south Rim, we stayed at the rim, Bright Angel cabins. Any of the in park, at the rim accommodations are great. Your problem with Cable Mountain may be it is too far out? Some online reservation system will not go that far out. Call them directly. We also went in May to Bryce, Zion and the ?North Rim. Not to busy yet and was able to secure our rooms a few days ahead.

Thanks for all the accomodation advice, going to start booking very soon!

Ive been having a bit of a re-think about the route. I was a bit worried that driving straight from Zion to Lone Pine would give us very limited time to explore Death Valley NP.

So I've come up with this :

Day 1 - Arrive in LA
Day 2 - LA
Day 3 - LA
Day 4 - Drive to Grand Canyon (South Rim - hopefully catch sunset)
Day 5 - Grand Canyon
Day 6 - Drive to Page
Day 7 - Drive to Bryce Canyon NP
Day 8 - Drive to Zion NP
Day 9 - Zion NP
Day 10 - Zion NP
Day 11 - Drive to Las Vegas
Day 12 - Las Vegas
Day 13 - Drive to Lone Pine
Day 14 - Drive to Yosemite
Day 15 - Yosemite
Day 16 - Yosemite
Day 17 - Drive to San Francisco
Day 18 - San Francisco
Day 19 - San Francisco
Day 20 - Drive to Carmel
Day 21 - Drive to Pismo Beach
Day 22 - Drive to LA
Day 23 - Fly Home

What do you think? Do you think this improves the route in any way?

Thanks in advance

If it makes a difference, there are no TV's in the rooms at Zion and Bryce lodges.

The night of day 3 drive through the Mojave desert (Obey the speed limit on I-15). You won't miss much before Las Vegas.
Enjoy several hours before the sunset at the south rim.
You might enjoy Bishop or Big Pine more than Lone Pine.
If Tioga Pass is still closed you may have to take Rt. 108 or Rt. 4 to get over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to come into Yosemite from the west side.