PORTLAND (AP) – Nearly 731,000 vehicles used the Maine Turnpike during the Labor Day weekend, 2.2 percent fewer than during the same Friday-through-Monday period a year ago, the toll highway’s officials said Tuesday.

While the number was down, it was still 11,000 more than the Maine Turnpike Authority projected. Friday was by far the busiest day with 241,648 vehicles entering the York-to-Augusta highway.

Turnpike Authority spokesman Dan Paradee said unexpectedly higher traffic numbers were due to the better-than-expected weather and what appeared to be a large number of Mainers traveling around their own state. State tourism officials have been pushing “staycations” urging Mainers to enjoy their own state.

The stay-at-home pattern was also observed by some owners of establishments that cater to vacationers and tourists.

Joe Albuit, owner of Evergreen Campground in Solon, said he had seen a lot more Mainers in his business this summer.

Normally, said Albuit, his customer ratio breaks down to 60 percent out-of-staters and 40 percent Mainers. This summer, it was closer to 20 percent nonresidents and 80 percent Maine residents, he said.

While many declare Labor Day as the official end of the tourist season, some businesses such as Albuit’s see a bump in September. Some people prefer to wait for a quieter period, when children have returned to school, crowds get smaller and the weather is still pleasant, to take their vacations, Albuit said.

“Sometimes we get a surge in September,” said Albuit, who runs a year-round business. “We’re hoping that we’re going to see that this year.”

The turnpike’s Paradee said Labor Day’s better-than-expected traffic “was a good start to the fall tourism season.”