If I can add to this, we really enjoyed Monterey and consider it worth a night's stay to refresh.

We did the drive SF->LA and consider the Monterey-Big sur-San Simeon section the most fun. Santa Cruz was also a good place for a break.

Driving via Pebble Beach, between Carmel and Monterey, is worth it if you'd like to see the courses and have another break. I preferred PB it to Monterey, which is like one huge gift shop for cashed-up retirees (no offence)!

There are some amazing spots near Big Sur, on the coast and in the national park. We timed some scenic parts of the drivee to coincide with (September)sunset, which made for hundreds of great photos. There was virtually no traffic so it was possible to park off the roads at lookouts without risk.

Try to get a map of the parks and attractions around Big Sur- staying at the hotel sounds like a great idea!

If possible, try to book a sporty car (ahead of time) to suit your comfort level, as this is a really beautiful, relatively quiet (for us) road that was a joy to drive!