We did a similar trip, but went from SF to Sacramento to Lake Tahoe to Monterey to Big Sur. Definitely the DRIVE along Pacific Coast Hwy was as good as the destination. We spent a lazy afternoon in Big Sur, found a table in a local restaurant over looking the cliffs where water, sky and land all meet. Incredible scenery, but not much else to do there. For us, one day at Big Sur was enough.

The view on your drive from Big Sur to Monterrey is great, then you cut over through Gilroy and Watsonville on 101 to make better time to the airport.

OP back. Thanks for the feedback. DS is 9. That's it as far as kids go. Or does the 40-year-old DH count?

DH and I both want to do 17-mile drive. I really want to do the Aquarium. I think DS will love it. Getting out of Yosemite seems to be the issue. I *really* want to stretch the entire trip to 11 days, but DH is not for it!

We'll have to cut a day from the San Francisco part of the trip or Yosemite. Neither of which appeal to me. I don't think cutting a day from Big Sur is really an option.

OP how old are your kids? This will help in giving advice

We just did this exact trip two years ago (Big Sur and Monterey and Carmel) and spent 4 days doing it. It ALWAYS took us longer to drive anywhere than we thought - especially with the heavy fog that arrives around 6pm.

You'll want to stop a few times on the Big Sur drive to take photos, wander through the trees, get food, see the funky little antique shops, etc.

P.S. If you hike up the river bed in JF Burns park there is a great swimming hole, we used to carry our daypacks on our heads and climb up the rock at what looks like the end of the accessible area of that gorge to get away from the other campers, couple more good swim spots upriver.

Also if you get to Andrew Molera there is a barbed wire fence that says no trespassing on the north side of the bluff - it's cattle/ranch land - but all I can say is if you stay beneath the cliff and head that way, you will see seals and otters and a ton of excellent tide pools. Unlikely you will be bothered unless the cowboys are right there. They never are.

Can you take me? Sounds like a wonderful trip, but as others said, you're squeezing a lot into Sunday.

There is a long hike at Andrew Molera that is about 8 miles and is really spectacularly beautiful. If you wind up finding a way to spend more time in Big Sur, I recommend it. I also loved the food at Big Sur Bakery, though it does not have a view.

Former No Cal girl here. That's a LONG day (Yosemite plus other activities) but it could work. 17 mile Drive really is just a gorgeous drive through millionaire's row, basically, def. worth doing. You might do the Aquarium, then dinner in Monterey, then the drive BUT the scenery on the way to Big Sur is incredible...
Do NOT miss Pfieffer State Beach (natural bridges, windy rocky scenery, nice sand), Andrew Molera State Park is also a great short hike (meadow, butterfly grove, beach and bluff) and NEPENTHE even just for coffee.

It depends on what type of travelers you are, too. Are you the sort who likes to stop, take many pictures, relax by the scene? Or do you want to just kind of breeze through. I find when we travel we always end up taking more time than we thought we would, which is fine, as long as you have that buffer ...

OP back. Thanks for the feedback.

So if we stay Sunday night in Monterery, do 17 Mile Drive on Monday morning and then drive to Big Sur? We'd only have Monday in Big Sur. Flight is Tuesday afternoon from SFO, so I'm sure we'd need to leave Big Sur by 9.

Google maps was giving me the time estimates of 4 hours and 1 hour. I wasn't sure how realistic they were.

I second the PP. The drive from Yosemite to Monterrey will take longer than 4 hours.

Plus, the Aquarium can easily eat up a day. Then to do the 17 mile drive (which can easily take up to 2 hours right there, esp, if you stop to take picture, etc) and then drive to Big Sur.

Agree that you should over night in Monterrey, then do 1 night in Big Sur.

I think Yosemite to Monterrey will take longer than 4 hours, particularly on a Sunday, when everyone leaves Yosemite (think returning from the beach to DC in the summer). Here are two alternatives:

1) leave Yosemite on Saturday, spend the night in Monterrey, spend two nights in Big Sur

2) leave Yosemite on Sunday, spend the night in Monterrey, go to the aquarium in the morning and then drive to Big Sur, spend one night in Big Sur, drive to the airport

OP again - Really hoping someone can assist with this question! I know there are some NorCal ladies who read the boards...

Planning a trip to Nor Cal. Doing the finishing touches on our itinerary. Curious if I have overscheduled us. Here's the current plan (for a Sunday, BTW).

Depart Yosemite.
Drive to Monterery (4 hours)
Go to Aquarium.
Take 17-mile drive.
Drive to Big Sur (1 hour to Julia Pfeiffer Burns).

Check into hotel at Big Sur for 2 nights, which would give us 1 full day in Big Sur; day 2 consists of leaving Big Sur and heading back to SFO for 2:30 flight.

I would *love* to spend more than part of a day in Monterey, but that would cut our Big Sur drastically. And my DH doesn't want to extend the vacation to an 11th day.