We're planning a trip to California in June 2016. Plan is to arrive in San Francisco, spend 3 nights there, then drive to LA via the Pacific Coast, with maybe 2 stops along the way, spending a night or 2 near Monterey or Carmel, and another night (or 2) between Monterey and LA.
I've read some of the posts here, and looked up driving times on Via Michelin.

My questions:
how realistic are the times given on Via Michelin; 3 hours from SF to Monterey (or Carmel), and 4h19 from Monterey to Pismo Beach.
How busy is it in the middle of June? Is it better to do the drive during the week - is it busier at weekends?

From Union Square to Monterey it's about 2 1/4 hrs with little or no traffic. There will be little or no traffic early Sat & Sun mornings. On work days - budget 30 to 45 mins longer.

Weekends will be more crowded in Carmel. Early June will be less crowded. I would go early on a Sunday morning.

Stu Dudley

google maps says it closer to 3 1/2 hours from monterey to pismo. one consideration i would have if doing this trip in may or june. sometimes, in the morning, we get what is called "june gloom" where the coast has a thick marine layer which usually burns off by noon. doesn't happen everyday. but, while i encourage you to have early starts if the weather is clear, i would keep my schedule somewhat flexible so that if you wake up and it's gloomy, you can stay where you are, roaming that area for a few hours so hopefully it clears. it's a shame to drive that route if you can't see it.

Sounds like a nice trip, I'd do it during the week if possible as some places (Santa Barbara for example) require two night minimum stays on weekends.

Mid-June is already a busy time on the central coast so I'd do it midweek. Hotel rates will also be lower with no minimum stays during the week. Leaving San Francisco on a Sunday would be perfect.

Thanks for your tips. We haven't booked flights yet so will try to plan so that we can leave SF on a Sunday morning.

I'll certainly come back with more questions later!