I've done this trip numerous times with gf (now wife) and friends. You have a good plan to burn through the drive fast going down then enjoy it coming back.
Going down just make sure you avoid rush hour around Seattle on the I5. It just isn't a good way to start or end a long days drive and I have had way worse experiences being stuck in that traffic for whatever reasons vs southern California where it always can be bad. The I5 traffic flows good the rest of the way to LA and there are lots of options that work ok for overnight. Lots of truck stops to stretch dogs legs too. Just avoid Seattle and to a lesser extent Portland and Sacramento rush hr traffic with your start times and when to plan for breaks. I actually recommend not staying/stopping in any of the big cities on the way down as you just end up dealing with their traffic unless its just off the I5. We had one good hotel in Sacramento just off I5 and everywhere else just ended up wasting time driving to an unrememberable hotel.
Coming back consider the 101 from Ventura to San Francisco. Or if you want to avoid big cities cut back to the I5 at Monterey. This is the best coastal scenic route in California in my opinion. An odd recommendation is to stay the night in Solvang. Its a very danish styled town and very different for California. Beer, wine and pastries were extremely good and the town is a bit eccentric but small town friendly and really sticks out in my memories of those trips.
Oregon coast is great and you can't really go wrong where you decide to stop. It kind of depends what you are after but all of the coastal cities/towns are good. The drive is laid back and there are lots of towns like Cannon beach, Seaside, Lincoln City that has something worth visiting. Lots of hiking trails and beaches that are accessible near those towns. Pacific city was a highlight with coastal dunes and I recommend the Pelican Brewing taphouse that is right on the beach there. Such good beer and location.
It really is a good road trip, good luck.
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