1

I'm sorry, but I will need to ask a few questions before I can give you any answers.

Do you mean that you will fly into Las Vegas on Saturday and pick up your friend in Los Angeles on the FOLLOWING Thursday? This is after spending a "couple of days" in San Francisco. Would those days be Monday and Tuesday?

What stops? You'll presumably spend Saturday night in Las Vegas.
The fastest way to San Francisco from Las Vegas is I-15, I-40, and I-5 by way of Bakersfield. It is an 8.5-hour drive plus stops but the only reasons to stop are for gas, food, etc. There is nothing to see. The drive "through" Yosemite is about 10.5 hours and it is gorgeous much of the way. The route through Yosemite also takes you through Death Valley but you won't have time to stop and see anything in either park. The drive through Yosemite also presumes this trip is late enough in the spring that Tioga Pass is open. Be sure that it is.
I'll presume Sunday night, Monday, and Tuesday in San Francisco.
The drive down the coast to Los Angeles takes another 5.5 hours on I-5 back past Bakersfield. You may die of boredom.
Taking CA-1 down the coast and it is on the coast, is a beautiful 8-hour drive and you having two days to complete it. I would drive the first day until tired and stop at one of the small towns for the night. That puts you in Los Angeles late in the afternoon on Thursday. When does your friend arrive?

Death Valley is not "on the way" back to Las Vegas.

I think that this trip will seem rushed. You need to give yourselves more time or cut out either the friend or San Francisco.

Have a great, if rushed, time.

2

Is this OK(?). No it isn't at all ... your ambition exceeds the distances involved and the time constraints you face. Get your friend to fly on to San Francisco - and meet them there on Thursday ... and then decide what to do next. Big Sur > Santa Barbara > Las Vegas is one option.

3

This is what you have:

Saturday--Las Vegas
Sunday--drive to SF through Yosemite
Monday--in SF
Tuesday--highway 1 through Big Sur
Wednesday--Highway 1 to LA
Thursday--pick up friend

You might have a little more time if your friend doesn't arrive until Thursday evening.

The Sunday drive is impossible. It looks like this and will take you nearly 12 hours, if you do not stop.

Something has to go. With such short notice, it will be difficult to get lodging in the Yosemite area. You could fly from Las Vegas to SF, then drive to LA. The money you spend on the flight would be probably be saved by the shorter car rental time. You do not need a car in either Las Vegas or SF. Pick up the car when you leave SF.

Another choice would be to take two days to drive to SF via Yosemite (3 would be better, then you would have time to visit Death Valley as well as spend more time in Yosemite), then fly from SF to LA, skipping Big Sur.

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Nutrax

The plural of anecdote is not data.

4

It sounds like they are doing it this week. If that's the case, it actually looks like this.

5

#4 is correct if the trip begins tomorrow.

6

So you're basically in the car for 6 days. What's the point?

7

many thanks, sorry I should have made it clear that we are doing the trip in autumn. will look at your suggestions and plan again

8

LA to Vegas ...via Death Valley is not a straight line...but Death Valley is worth seeing after being stuck in LA traffic... Stark and Scenic...

Actually being in your car is a good way to see the very scenic American West... Its a great way to see the mountains and deserts...and the geology of the area. ... You don't have to go out and climb every mountain you see...!

Yosemite could be very crowded...its a very narrow valley you can walk to both sides of it...just finding parking can be a problem... The Big Sur drive will be interesting...but is slower so budget enough time...

There are a full range of motels on every Interstate stop...usually next to the chain restaurants for the town...

9

They can go Vegas - Death Valley - Yosemite - SF - coast - LA. But this requires a minimum of 2 weeks. More if possible.

10

Depending on when in "autumn," it may still be that route I posted. The road east into Yosemite usually closes in October or November.
Historical data.