I'm coming over to the states from Europe and landing in Los Angeles on 16 November and then flying out again on 01 December. I'm picking up a car and the plan was originally to drive up CA-1 to San Francisco and then up the Oregon coast all the way to Portland. However, as a large portion of CA-1 is closed, now thinking if I should just take I-5 instead. If I do take I-5, how safe would it be to sleep in my car in a rest area. Also, it seems unless I get lucky with the weather, then the drive up the Oregon coast could be raining a lot, so seems pointless driving up the coast if not going to be able to see anything. So, now thinking about driving to South Lake Tahoe after San Francisco for a night. Then onto Zion, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and then back to Los Angeles. I was researching the route from South Lake Tahoe and some people were suggesting to go via Death Valley. Is this better than the basin route. Is the Joshua Tree also worth visiting.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm going to be in a hire car, so any routes that would require snow chains are a no no and it is a rear wheel drive sport coupe, so this could also affect the potential routes that I can take. Will there be much police, or speed cameras along the routes.