Raymond "Ray" Garraty is a 16-year-old boy from Pownal, Maine, and the only competitor from his home state in the grueling walking competition. Though not a serious athlete, his tall build makes him a contender in the eyes of his peers. He is generally well-liked and forms close alliances with other Walkers, though he struggles with the grim reality of the contest and his own evolving sense of masculinity. Driven by the hope of seeing his mother and girlfriend along the route, he must rely on his newfound friends to survive the physical and mental toll of the Walk.

Peter McVries is a tall, physically fit Walker with a distinctive facial scar. Highly critical of the totalitarian government and the capitalistic motives behind the Walk, he often voices the rebellious thoughts that others keep hidden. He takes on a protective, almost sidekick role with Garraty, offering philosophical musings and challenging his friend's worldview. He approaches the deadly competition with a mix of cynical morality and intense loyalty to those he chooses to help.

Stebbins is a 17-year-old Walker easily recognizable by his blond hair, chambray shirt, and purple pants. He is a mysterious loner who prefers speaking in riddles and cryptic metaphors, frustrating the other competitors. Comparing himself to the White Rabbit, he hovers at the back of the pack, observing the social dynamics of the other boys without ever truly joining them. He harbors deep secrets about his motivations for entering the deadly contest.

Scramm is a physically imposing, "moose-like" Walker from Arizona who commands high expectations from his peers. Despite lacking formal education, having dropped out of school to work in a factory, he is genial, kind, and overwhelmingly optimistic. He stands out among the adolescent competitors because he is already married and expecting a child, giving him a sense of adult responsibility that fascinates the others.

The Major is the dictatorial authority figure who oversees the brutal competition. Tall and intimidating, he perpetually wears sunglasses and projects a dark, godlike authority over the dystopian society. He enforces the rules of the Walk with terrifying precision, demanding absolute obedience while inspiring a complex mixture of reverence, fear, and hatred.

Art Baker is a friendly and reflective Walker from the South. The nephew of an undertaker, he frequently contemplates mortality and the terrifying circumstances of their competition. He harbors guilt over his past involvement in racist "night-rider" activities, using the Walk as an opportunity to reflect on his moral failings and form genuine connections.

Hank Olson is a confident Walker who initially projects a tough, "gunslinger" persona to mask his underlying fears. He tries to motivate himself and others through bravado, but the relentless physical and psychological toll of the competition quickly tests his limits.

Gary Barkovitch is an intensely abrasive Walker who quickly earns the disdain of his peers. He believes that forming alliances is a strategic weakness and actively tries to provoke the other boys. His volatile temper frequently sparks physical conflict within the pack.

Abraham is a Walker who joined the deadly competition on a spur-of-the-moment decision, intentionally writing a foolish qualification essay. He quickly regrets his impulsive choice as the harsh reality of the elements and the strict rules set in, heavily relying on his peers for moral support.

Collie Parker is a tough, defiant Walker who grows increasingly furious with the soldiers and the unjust system trapping them. He harbors a deep resentment for the authority figures policing the competition and openly contemplates violent rebellion.

Pearson is an analytical Walker who copes with the trauma of the competition by keeping a morbid tally. He transfers pennies from one pocket to another every time a competitor is eliminated, reducing the tragedy around him to a quantifiable metric.

Jan is Raymond "Ray" Garraty's girlfriend back home in Maine. She vehemently opposed his decision to join the Walk, even offering to barter her virginity to make him stay. During the competition, she transforms into an idealized symbol of life and comfort in his mind.

Mr. Garraty is Raymond "Ray" Garraty's father. A staunch political dissident, he openly criticized the Major and the totalitarian nature of the Walk. His rebellious outspokenness eventually led to him being forcibly taken away by the mysterious "Squads."

Garraty's mother is an anxious, protective woman who understands the deadly stakes of the totalitarian regime. Having lost her husband to the state's enforcers, she is desperate to save her son from the horrors of the Walk but remains powerless to stop him.

Joe is a Hopi Walker from Arizona who wears a distinctive leather jacket. He enters the deadly competition alongside his brother, a decision that deeply upsets other Walkers who realize the immense grief their parents will face.

Mike is a Hopi Walker from Arizona who participates in the Walk with his brother. He remains intensely loyal to his sibling and their newly formed allies as the physical toll of the competition mounts.

Harkness is an ambitious Walker who enters the competition with the goal of writing a book about the experience. He treats the early stages of the Walk as an investigative project, diligently recording the names and details of his peers.

Gribble is a highly volatile Walker who struggles with the psychological pressure of the rules. Desperate for human connection, he acts impulsively to seek out the attention of female spectators, ignoring the fatal consequences.

Percy is a young Walker whose presence is defined by the desperate, repeated attempts of his mother to breach the police barricades. He constantly watches the soldiers and edges toward the shoulder, hoping for an escape.

Percy's Mother is a frantic spectator who refuses to accept the brutal reality of the competition. She repeatedly charges the barricades in desperate, unsuccessful attempts to extract her son from the Walk.

Priscilla is Peter McVries's ex-girlfriend. She moved to New Jersey with him to work in a pajama factory, where she quickly found financial success and independence, causing a violent rift between them.

Cathy is Scramm's pregnant wife. Though she does not appear on the Walk, her existence serves as her husband's primary motivation for enduring the brutal competition.

Rank is a physically aggressive Walker who quickly loses his patience with the taunts of his peers. His inability to ignore provocation leads to a fatal altercation on the road.

Aunt Hattie is Art Baker's relative. She is remembered for her morbid enjoyment of attending funerals, serving as a dark parallel to the crowds who gather to watch the Walk.

Dom L'Antio is an Italian spectator who attempts to offer physical relief to the Walkers. Defying the strict police barricades, he throws slices of watermelon to the starving competitors.

Jimmy Owens is Raymond "Ray" Garraty's childhood friend. Memories of their past explorations of sexuality cause Garraty internal conflict as he evaluates his current identity.

Curley is an unfortunate Walker who suffers severe leg cramps early in the event. His physical failure provides a grim reality check for the rest of the competitors regarding the absolute enforcement of the rules.