I think your idea of switching your travel dates to winter is good option. New York is festive around the holiday season and New Orleans' weather should be pretty nice.

"places just outside the French Quarter are simply not safe."

this sort of statement is simply not true. There are areas to avoid but the place is mostly safe.

There is a great deal to do in NOLA and the immediate area. Jazz, food, architecture, scenery, history, plantation houses, haunted tours, air boat rides, fishing, festivals, Voodoo, the civil war and more.

I like your first itinerary but think you should perhaps change to October/November, or April/May to get more acceptable temperatures. It makes sense to fly into San Francisco, and then fly from New York back to Los Angeles unless you are wanting to do the road trip between SF and LA.

New York hotels are very expensive, we managed to get reservations in Long Island City, one subway stop from Manhattan for $ 139.00 a night last November. Hotels in Manhattan were double this price and more. You have to factor in the tax as well.

We stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites in New Orleans just outside the quarter. Free wi-fi, free breakfast, for $ 89.00US a night. Only five minutes walk to Canal St.

August is a terrible time to head for the south - Oct would be a much better choice for the whole country.

However, one you head into the holidays (Thanskgiving through NYEve) you run into very high prices - esp in NYC and have the potential for significant bad weather in the northernn parts - meaning a complete new winter wardrobe and potential issues with travel delays across the country - as well as scarce tickets/high plane fares when people are traveling for the holidays.

Sorry - don;t mean that people shouldn't visit NO - but that people should be aware of local conditions - which are likely to be very different from those where they come from. If they are aware - and ask hotel staff - they can get info on the areas that must be avoided.

Hi Jordan
Your itinerary is very ambitious .... if it was converted to travelling in Oz, you'd be looking at something like this:
Kalgoorlie – 2 Days

Broome – 3 Days

Perth – 3 Days

Melbourne – 6 Days

Brisbane – 3 Days

Northern NSW – 3 Days
Townsville/Cairns – 3 Days

Brisbane – 7 Days
Madness = 1 month!!
While it is definitely easier and cheaper to get around the US than here (I used to live there when I was 21), I think you will spend most of your time travelling between destinations instead of enjoying the places you are visiting. Suggest you cut down the destinations as others have done, to NYC, WAshington DC, New Orleans, San Fran and if you have to, Vegas. I would absolutely avoid the east coast and the south in August, the humidity is unbearable (and it's not like you're in Bali/Phuket/Fiji where you have a pool/beach/cocktail to help you cope!). I would also add in Yosemite and/or Grand Canyon or other non-city destination, as America is truly spectacular and it's shame to only see a few cities.
Enjoy your adventure!!!

Respectfully, I am a wee shocked that the general mention of "coasts" does not include a breath of fresh air in Santa Barbara, California... It's rare to have forest and beach 15-20 minutes from each other. If one feels particularly deserving of a good pampering, the Simpson House Inn is AMAZING. Easily found on Tripadvisor and Yelp with very high marks on both sites. Truly memorable.

Hi Jordon,
Lodging alternatives I would suggest you check out are www.airbnb.com and couchsurfing.org. Both connect you with other, like-minded world travelers who offer a wide variety of accommodations to other travelers, for MUCH less than a hotel/motel...and sometimes, even a hostel. An added benefit is connecting with someone who lives in each location who really knows the best ways to get around once there, best places to eat, etc, etc.
Oh, and in NYC...I would recommend staying at the Westside YMCA Hostel. Nothing fancy, but AMAZING location, right across from Central Park and just a couple blocks to Times Square and subway lines in all directions.