Traffic on the Maine Turnpike was down 10 percent this past holiday weekend, compared to the first weekend in July one year ago – even with July Fourth thrown into the mix.

July Fourth last year fell on a Wednesday, thanks to Leap Year, so apple-to-apple comparisons are tough, said Turnpike spokesman Bruce Pelletier but the numbers were not good.

Traffic on Thursday was up 10 percent over the year before, with people apparently heading in for the long weekend, but there was virtually no one on the road on the holiday itself. Traffic was down 35 percent from the Friday a year before.

What does it all mean?

“Everything means something,” said Greg Dugal, head of the Maine Innkeepers Association, who believes the traffic number may be indicative of fewer day-trippers to Maine. Those day-trippers include Maine residents going to the shore or the lake for a break, but gas prices seemed to be keeping people at home.

Dugal said the good news is, overnight stays appear to be holding up, despite high energy prices.

“The economy is having an affect on travel, but it’s not stopping it,” Dugal said.

“July (bookings) seems to be filling in very nicely and the first three weeks of August look great,” Dugal said, but added he would take no bets yet on the fall.