Coyote is a resourceful 12-year-old girl who travels endlessly across the country in an old converted school bus named Yager. She lives a seemingly carefree wandering lifestyle but secretly harbors deep grief from a tragic family accident five years ago. She goes barefoot, wears round sunglasses, and possesses a quick wit that she uses to negotiate with adults and solve logistical problems. A phone conversation with her grandmother prompts her to trick her father into driving cross-country.

Rodeo is Coyote's eccentric father who avoids the pain of a traumatic past. He remains unshaven, goes barefoot or shirtless, and drives a converted yellow school bus named Yager with no set destination. He enforces strict rules against looking backward or discussing past events.

Salvador is a lean, strong-willed Latino boy who travels across the country with his mother to escape a difficult domestic situation. He is protective, perceptive, and initially untrusting, and carries emotional weight from an abusive father. A talented violinist, he connects with Coyote over shared experiences of loss and wandering.

Lester is a transient Black man in his twenties who gives up his band in Florida to travel to Boise, Idaho, for love. He secures a spot on Yager after he passes Rodeo's specific three-question test. He possesses quiet strength and shares wisdom about love and relationships with the younger passengers.

Val is a 17-year-old girl who pretends to be 19 to secure a ride on Yager. She attempts to reach her cousin in Seattle after she faces rejection from her parents. She quickly integrates into the bus family and uses her quick thinking to protect her new friends.

Mom/Anne is Coyote's deceased mother, remembered as the idyllic embodiment of maternal love. She initiated the creation of a family memory box buried in a local park just days before she passed away in an automobile accident. Her memory initiates Coyote's urgent cross-country quest.

Esperanza is Salvador's mother, a resilient Latina woman who flees an abusive husband. She takes shelter on Rodeo's bus when her own car breaks down. She desperately tries to secure employment and stability for herself and her son.

Concepción is Esperanza's sister who joins the Yager passengers in Michigan. She recently left a shiftless boyfriend and guides her sister and nephew toward a promised job in Washington state. She proves her capability during a high-stakes mechanical failure on the road.

Ivan is a quiet, small kitten secretly brought onto the bus by Coyote. Named after a literary character, he provides Coyote with much-needed companionship. He becomes a beloved mascot for the entire group of travelers.

Ava is Coyote's older sister who passed away in an automobile accident five years prior to the story. She remains a beloved figure in Coyote's memories and stands as a central reason for the family's shared grief.

Rose is Coyote's younger sister who died in the same tragic accident as her mother and older sister. She left behind physical notes that express unconditional love for her family.

Coyote's grandmother lives in Washington and serves as a steady connection to Coyote's past. Her casual mention of a park demolition sets Coyote's urgent cross-country quest in motion.

Tammy is Lester's girlfriend in Boise, Idaho. She struggles to accept his lifestyle as a musician and demands he find a regular job. Her ultimatum forces Lester to make a difficult choice about his future and identity.

Gladys is a 200-pound goat that requires transport to Silver Bar, Washington. She unexpectedly charms the passengers of Yager and becomes a fiercely loyal, albeit unusual, temporary companion on their journey.

Travis is a young workman operating heavy machinery at the park in Poplin Springs. When Coyote arrives looking for her family's buried items, he initially tries to remove her from the dangerous trench but ultimately chooses to help her dig through the dirt.

Fiona is a girl around Coyote's age who shares her love of reading. She invites Coyote to her campsite for supper and provides a brief chance at friendship. The interaction ends abruptly when Fiona's mother observes Rodeo and forbids further contact.