Tom, do you mean 8 hours driving down the coast (because obviously it's a lot faster if you get back on 5 or 101).

Sf7: At the end of the trip - what I was talking about was that if one had to get back to SF from SD - you could go up I-5 and be in SF in about 8 hours - pushing through.

Of course, driving down the coast takes longer, albeit much more scenic/fun.

And if it could be arranged - I would try to fly back home from SD.

Do the 14 days include travel days to and from the East Coast?

It's possible to do a loop trip, start in the north, go south, then loop back to the north (we're always concerned about the drop off fees for the rental cars if you do a one-way trip).

If possible, fly into Sacramento, CA.

Then drive into SF and spend a couple of days there.

Two days to drive along the ocean to LA.

Two to three days in LA.

Two to three days in San Diego. With kids that age, there's so much for them to do and to interest them in San Diego that, if anything, you can cut out the Northern California and spend all your time in Southern California.

One day to get to Yosemite.

A couple of days in Yosemite.

Fly home from Sacramento.