I need help planning a 7 day coastal road trip from Newport Beach Ca. to the redwood forest near Humbolt County. (Then we're doing a power drive to Seattle which is home) Some things to know:
Of course I must drive HWY 1.
Stop in SF to see friends and Santa Cruz for same reason, (but have free stay in Carmel?)
I grew up in LA and know the roads well, but it's been 20 years since I've driven the coast.
Oh....and taking a couple of days in LA/Santa Monica would be great too. What I don't need to stop and see is Hearst Castle as I've been there and my travel companion is not interested nor really am I. I know the coast well I'm just not sure with 7 days where to stop for a couple of nights versus what should be one nighters, Also other then HWY1 what other drives not to miss.
Once I have a a sense of where and how long we'll be staying, I'll get down to the hotel part.

Thanks in advance!

We've travelled HWY 1 from Chula Vista to Seattle on different trips.I would take a stop in Santa Barbara and stay the longest in S. Francisco.We have the best memories of those places.Paul

If you want to get up to Humboldt County and spend time in Carmel/Santa Cruz/San Francisco you'll have to make good time in the southern section.

Assuming 1 night in Carmel, a daytime stop in Santa Cruz, and 2 nights in San Francisco . . PLUS a couple of days in LA/Santa Monica. . . I'd pretty much skip the rest of the southern coast.

2 nights in Santa Monica. Then head north, stop and wander around Santa Barbara a bit if you'd like, but press on and stay the third night in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo or Morro Bay. Then up through Big Sur to Carmel for a night (2 would be better since there is a lot to see in the area). That has already used up at least 4 nights and you still need to get to Santa Cruz/SF/and waaaay up the coast.

SF to Arcata/the north coast is a very long slog -- you should break the journey at least once -- Mendocino/Little River or somewhere like that.

If you follow Highway 1 north of San Francico, the best (the most lodging choices) stopping points would be Mendocino or Fort Bragg. Or, you could push on to the big trees area around Garberville or Leggett.

enter your starting and ending locations at freetrip.com.

you can find hotels along the way in your price range by checking that option.