Can you please tell me if I am trying to do too much in a week? We want to fly into San Jose and stay in Carmel for two nights, then drive down to Cambria (stay one night), then drive to Santa Barbara(two nights) to Huntington Beach (one night), to San Diego (two nights).

The alternative is to start out in Santa Barbara and eliminate Carmel. We would just stay longer in each place. Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you.

you can do it.
however, unless you have a reason for stopping in huntington beach, i'd skip that and spend 3 nights in either san diego or santa barbara.
if you are renting a car, i assume you are aware there will be a significant drop off fee for one way rental.

I certainly would not miss the prettiest part of our coast - by far - the stretch between Carmel & Cambria.

I second the recommendation of skipping Huntington Beach, unless you want to surf there. Instead, stay in Laguna Beach - it is a much more charming village, and the coast is quite scenic there - perhaps the prettiest between Santa Barbara & San Diego.

You realize, of course, that a good portion of your vacation between the spots south of Santa Barbara will be spent driving along freeways & other non-scenic roads - especially the stretch between Santa Barbara & Huntington Beach. From Huntington Beach south to where you have to get back on the 405 freeway to go to San Diego is OK, by Southern California standards IMHO.

Have you considered just visiting the area between Mendocino & Carmel - with San Francisco halfway in between. You will se much prettier coast than you will see south of Cambria (of course, I live in that region so I'm biased). It is not "Baywatch" type beaches, if that's what you are looking for. It will be much cooler & foggier in July & August.

Stu Dudley

Carmel-San Diego is very doable in a week. The Highway 1 drive between Carmel and Santa Monic is spectacular. The drive along the coast south of LA to San Diego is not as scenic, but there are several very attractive places to spend time there. You might want to post a question about the best place to stay between LA and San Diego. Apparently it's not Huntington Beach.

Actually, eventhough I live in Huntington Beach, I would say, spend a night in Santa Monica and visit 3rd St. prominade, the Santa Monica Pier, maybe even muscle beach in Venice Beach, then head out to San Diego.

In other words, unless you are planning on swimming in the ocean, skip Huntington Beach. Instead, make a stop in Santa Monica.

I second the Santa Monica/Venice Beach suggestion.