You may not have enough time to do all you wanted to do.
Albiet it was a long time ago, in another lifetime....i've been from coast to coast to/from the bay area a few times. If you are driving 12-16 hrs a day and stopping to sleep, eat and use the restroom, it is easily going to take you 4-5 days to make the drive straight across the nation. As you are going the southern route, it could feasably take a little longer. And thats if everything goes right.