RE Mileage between motels....
Big Sur area.... if you go Monterey to San Simeon its 93 hard miles. If you leave from the town of Big Sur its 65 miles. There are only a couple spots in between to stop...Ragged Point is about 18 miles north of San Simeon so shortens things up...downside is that rooms are $125 plus.... only other lodging I know of is in either Lucia
http://www.lucialodge.com/mall/c121/...mmodations.htm or Gorda
http://www.bigsurgordasprings.com/....
I'd think about having some reservations... Beyond San Simeon you won't have any problems...