Moving to Strasburg, CO: A Local's Guide

by Chelsea Pruitt

If you've driven I-70 east out of Denver, you've passed Strasburg — and you may not have realized you were passing one of the most quietly interesting small towns on the Eastern Plains. For buyers looking to trade metro congestion for space and a slower pace, it's worth a real look. Here's what living in Strasburg is actually like.

A genuinely small town, close to a big city

Strasburg's appeal is the balance it strikes. You get large lots, rural quiet, and a tight community where people still wave from the porch — but you're only about 30 to 35 minutes from east Aurora and Denver International Airport on I-70. That makes it a practical choice for airport employees, east-metro commuters, and the growing number of people who work from home and want more land for their money. It's also a natural fit for horse owners and anyone who's always wanted a few acres.

Where to eat

For a town its size, Strasburg's food scene is a pleasant surprise. Dulce Espresso & Bakery is the local go-to for coffee and from-scratch pastries — the kind of spot that builds a loyal morning crowd. Yatai Asian Kitchen is the genuine sleeper hit, turning out sushi and Asian fusion that draws people from up and down the corridor. For Mexican, you've got two strong options in 7 Leguas Mexican Grille and Salinas Mexican Food, both longtime favorites with travelers and locals alike. And Rookies covers the bar-and-grill, pizza-and-a-beer end of things.

The railroad history nobody talks about

Here's Strasburg's claim to fame, and it's a good one. Most people learn that the first transcontinental railroad was finished at Promontory, Utah, in 1869. But that line still had a gap — there was no rail bridge across the Missouri River, so travelers had to take a ferry mid-journey. The first truly continuous, coast-to-coast rail link wasn't completed until August 15, 1870, when Kansas Pacific crews driving toward each other met at Comanche Crossing, just east of Strasburg. On the final day, crews laid a record 10¼ miles of track in nine hours — reportedly racing for a barrel of whiskey buried at the midpoint. The town leans proudly into the story: there's a monument in Lyons Park and the Comanche Crossing Museum in the historic depot, open in the summer months. It's a fun piece of local identity, and a reminder that this stretch of plains has been a crossroads for over 150 years.

What to know before you buy

Strasburg inventory is limited, and the mix is varied — in-town homes, rural acreage, and newer builds all trade here, often at very different price points. Properties on acreage can involve wells and septic rather than municipal utilities, so it pays to know what you're looking at. Working with an agent who watches the Strasburg market daily means you hear about the right listing before it's gone.