Does this seem like a good plan?
May 12 (Saturday) - fly from Atlanta to San Francisco.
Cab or shuttle to airport (Hilton at Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square using points)
Stay 3 nights

May 15 (Tuesday) - get back to airport; pick up rental car. Drive to Yosemite Park.
Stay at Tenaya Lodge 2 nights.

May 17 (Thursday) - drive to Monterey. Stay 3 nights. Then on May 20, drive to San Francisco airport, return car, fly home.

Our alternate plan would be SF for 4 nights, and then Monterey(or somewhere near) for 4 nights.

Ideas? Thanks!

I think your plan is okay.

That seems very doable. Personally I'd opt for another day in Yosemite and just 2 nights in Monterey.

Hertz, Avis, Alamo/National etc, they all have offices downtown. Check the rates, might be no more expensive than going to the airport to pick up your car. Hertz and Avis may even pick you up at your hotel.

If possible, stay in the valley at Yosemite instead of Tenaya, but if that's all that's available, it's fine. The rest of your plan looks fine.

Agree w/ the two comments:

It will likely be cheaper and quicker to pickup the car near your hotel

and - If possible stay at Yosemite Lodge. Tenaya is definitely OK, but the drives to/from the Valley will eat up a lot of time.

Is there a better place to stay than in Monterey? Any particular lodging suggestions? We want a nice, oceanfront place. Thanks!

I answered on your other thread about coastal stay.

I would suggest not staying at Fisherman's Wharf. Union Sq area is preferable in my 2 cents view.

There is no need or reason to go to airport to rent car. Airport locations charge much more for rentals. Dollar Car rental has a location just off Union Sq [O'Farrell St] and often has "City Specials". The do not charge a one way/drop off fee for picking up in city and returning to SFO.

Thanks! I thought I would get more specific responses by starting the separate thread.

Tenya Lodge isn't exacly in the park. And it is a long way to the Valley(which is the main area of the park where everyone goes). And really it looks like you have only 1 fulll day at Yosemite.

Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove are all good places to stay.

There are relatively few 'ocean front'/'bay front' properties - but there are some. Mostly depends on your budget where the best place would be.